Diaconal Ministry

Miranda works the late counter
In a joint called Betty's Diner
Chrome and checkered tablecloths
one steamy windowpane
She got the job that shaky fall
And after hours she'll write til dawn
With a nod and smile she serves them all

Here we are all in one place
The wants and wounds of the human race
Despair and hope sit face to face
when you come in from the cold
Let her fill your cup with something kind
Eggs and toast like bread and wine
She's heard it all, so she don't mind

Arthur lets his Earl Grey steep
Since April its been hard to sleep
You know they tried most everything
Yet it took her in the end
Kevin tests new saxophones
But he swears he's leaving quality control
For Chicago's scene or New Orleans
Where they still play righteous horns

Here we are all in one place
The wants and wounds of the human race
Despair and hope sit face to face
when you come in from the cold
Let her fill your cup with something kind
Eggs and toast like bread and wine
She's heard it all, so she don't mind

Jack studies here after work
To get past high school, he's the first
His big hands seem just as comfortable
with a hammer or a pen
Emma leaned and kissed his cheek
And when she did his knees got weak
Miranda smiles at Em and winks

Here we are all in one place
The wants and wounds of the human race
Despair and hope sit face to face
when you come in from the cold
Let her fill your cup with something kind
Eggs and toast like bread and wine
She's heard it all, so she don't mind

You never know who'll be your witness
You never know who grants forgiveness
Look to heaven or sit with us

Deidre bites her lip and frowns
She works the Stop and Go downtown
Shes pretty good at the crossword page
She paints her eyes blue-black
Tristan comes along sometimes
Small for his age and barely five
But she loves him like a mamma lion

Here we are all in one place
The wants and wounds of the human race
Despair and hope sit face to face
when you come in from the cold
Let her fill your cup with something kind
Eggs and toast like bread and wine
She's heard it all, so she don't mind

Veda used to drink a lot
Almost lost it all before she stopped
Comes in at night with her friend Mike
Who runs the crisis line
Michael toured Saigon and back
Hair the color of smoke and ash
Their heads are bowed and hands are clasped
One more storm has passed

Here we are all in one place
The wants and wounds of the human race
Despair and hope sit face to face
when you come in from the cold
Let her fill your cup with something kind
Eggs and toast like bread and wine
She's heard it all, so she don't mind
-Carrie Newcomer, "Betty's Diner"
with thanks to frog for posting so much Carrie Newcome that I finally borrowed the CD