Just a Woman
Just a Woman
She stood in the cold, bitter salt spray
masquerading as tears stinging her cheeks.
North winds had come early, rough seas,
maddened surf, no sight of sails in two weeks.
She stood, leaning into the wind, just a woman.
She stood in the warmth of spring sunshine
hanging clothes on the sagging rope line,
children using her as part of their game,
dog barking at the approach of the mail truck.
She stood, gazing into the empty mailbox, just a woman.
She stood in the midst of dust dry fields
watching a dream carried off on the arid winds
nurtured the essence of their hope
hefted the weight of fates harsh habits.
She stood, hungry and tired, just a woman.
She stood in the lush fields of happiness
smiling on the future of her love,
watching youth grow to man and womanhood
move on toward their ever vague futures.
She stood, teary eyed, waving goodbye, just a woman.
She watched him slow in the achiness of age
eyes dimming in the shadow of tomorrows,
held his hand and walked the narrow corn rows
rekindling the joy of youthful lovers.
She stood, in loving’s dream, just a woman.
John G. Lawless
5/30/2015
2019 Marathon Poetry Contest #4
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