all that i am

today I held a stranger's head
in my lap
as she seized
upon the sidewalk
outside the window where I worked

people all around
giving random orders
calling 911
talk of drugs and medication
sun and heat and when her last one was
but no one moved to touch her

head bouncing on concrete
I knelt down
and began to pray
her sweating head in my lap
a cool wet cloth on her red hot face
and slowly she came around
staring blankly into my eyes
reaching out she found my hand
and holding on
the ambulance  came

I've never seen a seizure
I had no idea what to do
but she was in my hands
and in my prayer
until they placed her on their gurney
and took her away