Suddenly the smile left her smooth face and fear turned the hospital pink skin grey. She knew what was to come soon and perhaps it would be today. She had a strong faith in the next life and hoped she had earned her right to sit at her god's table and have her meagre sins take flight. She had lived a life full of service and done it all on her own. Always there for needy relatives and rarely heard to moan. She never married, but came close but a torpedo sank the Africa plan she carried on with shattered dreams and never picked another man. As a child he had never dared kiss this lady, now with grey tinged brow but in these last quiet moments he bent and kissed her now. Soon, too soon, her old body failed and her spirit flew away but the smile was once more on her face as she went on her way. 1993
Tag: Smile
Brain Storm
A clever lady with a ready smile Will always stop and chat a while But behind the eyes something unsaid I'm not well; I've got cancer in my head. She carries on her life each day Rolls with life's waves easy sway But now finds it hard to leave her bed Because she has cancer in her head. No angry words and no "why me"? With gritted teeth she shuns pity She accepts her path of life has led To getting cancer in her head. She went the way she wanted to No fuss, no rage, no pain Just named on a bench on her favourite trail Which she won't walk again.
I’ve Seen LOVE
The fickle butterfly called love Can settle or fly away As we go on with our daily lives We generally hope it will stay. Sometimes love goes wrong And the goodwill bank runs low In the passion of all the anger Lovers can watch the butterfly go. But I have seen true love I have seen it bold and plain Born from generous dependency Nurtured by the lovers' pain. I've seen my friend Mike stunned By the filthy erosion of his brain He ceases to walk far unaided And won't pee standing again. He and I were sharing some tea When his wife entered his space His fetid gaze suddenly sharpened And a beam simply split his face. She kissed him and sat with him And looked into the eyes of the smile She softened and flushed pinkly And they were lost together for a while. So I've seen love true and undiluted A privilege witnessed by very few Blossoming in the ashes of adversity What a lesson for me and you.
As I See Things 