Ann's Key
It’s one of those evenings when Beth doesn’t know
the woman beside her who talks soft and slow
of happy times SOMEbody had long ago.
If Beth’s feeling anything, it doesn’t show.
Ann brings out an album and says, “Mama, see,”
your favorite pictures.” She whispers a plea,
“If just for a while, Lord, let these be the key
that unlocks the treasures of her memory.”
“Here’s you with the ribbons you won at the fair
and pictures of Daddy back when he had hair!
Here’s you giving cookies to us kids to share.”
Did Beth just smile slightly? Could she be aware?
“Here’s one of your sisters and you. Y’all would try
to out-prank each other—grown women, so sly,
while lying in wait.” What Ann saw made her cry--
"a smile on her face and a gleam in her eye!" *
* line from "Batter Up" by Eve Roper
March 28, 2020, entered in Silent One's contest placed 2nd
Poetic Lines from a Poetry Soup Poet--Eve Roper
May 22, 2020, entered in Brian's Choice Q Contest
|