Alone

An elderly widow sits in the apple orchard

A single ant marches purposefully

Along rivulets of moss

Like external arteries

Clinging to weathered bricks

 

She watches in stillness and silence

No longer a slave to time

Simply no other place to be

Nowhere to feel needed

 

Her place is here for eternity

An orchard of trees in September

Bearing their favourite fruit

A reminder of a shared lifetime

 

Leaves flutter against autumn’s breath

Wordless, papery voices that reassure

She is never to be alone

Despite not conversing for days

 

A withered frame to reach no more

She can only imagine the taste

The wind befriends her

And places offerings at her feet

 

She stoops to retrieve her prize

Her spit and apron as polish

She fetches a knife and two plates

A habit never to be broken

 

A few moments before bliss

She is unable to mask

Her sorrow at the apple’s sheen

Against gnarled arthritic hands

 

Laying the plates before her

She is still for a moment

Waiting; then a familiar presence

Her soul awakens and takes flight

 

She feels him steady her hand

As she cuts through the skin and flesh

She hears him whisper on the wind

And finds comfort in her tears

Reviews

[Emily B]

oh, wow, such a beautifully told story

[EILEEN McGUINNESS]

A beautifully written poem and a tad ambiguous i like the transformation from a river rat to household in a few breaths,this was a nice piece which really captured autumn and i could see the view so clearly as your clever mind cultivated the wonderful imagery,i am impressed with this first poem which i have read from your site.
Perhaps your issues with the computer crashing everytime you visited my poems was because of a bug within the system not my pc but the writerscafe itself don't know just a thought.

[James Paulin]

I dont know how you did it but you have described this old womans mental state beautifully. I love your illustrations and the mood you set, somber and reflective. Perfect for Autumn. Excellent poem!