She wore her prophecy like a crown,nconvinced that her prince would save her from this ghost of a town.nWhen the factory closed, the economy frozenand there was no work to be found.nnHe swore that he'd only be gone for a while.nSoon as he could, he'd send for both her and the child.nWhile the other wives settled in their widowed lives,nshe fought to maintain a smile.nnThrough the wind and through the rain, she held a burning flame.nA promise true, etched in stone, he'd come to take her home.nnThe first month alone was a struggle to survive.nThen came the day that a letter finally arrived.nHe was heading east into the belly of the beastnwhere he'd heard they were still doing some hiring.nnThe love she had known was the force that helped her hang on.nThough her outlook was purely what others did surely frown upon.nShe knew for her and her son as sure as the setting sunnhe'd come and then they'd be gone.nnThrough the wind and through the rain, she held a burning flame.nA promise true, etched in stone, he'd come to take her home.nnHe worked the assembly line with its bell-driven gearsnand greased the wheels with his blood, sweat and tears,nas he saved every penny he made.nnFilled with maximum wage for minimum wage,nhe felt trapped like a rat running 'round in a cagenwhile his heart was still miles away.nnThat night the storm was the worst that she'd ever seen.nThe wind shook the roof and the wallboards came loose at the seams.nWith a thunder's roar he came through the front doornand there stood the man of her dreams.nnAnd he said,nThrough the wind and through the rain, I held a burning flame.nA promise true, etched in stone, I've come to take you home.