In Retrospect

She answered the door and found an old friend
They rested on a swing in the porch
she leaned on her withered shoulders
letting old memories flow unbridled

She remembered when she was young
racing her little brother in the front yard
her mother watched with adoring eyes
declaring them both winners under the fading light

when she played with cowrie shells
building castles in construction sand
falling asleep on grandma's knees
as the old woman told her tales of revered snakes

Bedtime stories from father were rare but rich
She spent nights huddling with her sisters
Through long talks they passed their wisdom
and crowned her queen of the terrace kingdom

Times when she shone like the sun
wearing her heart on her sleeve
she loved the greatness that went by the name Eddie
she watched a humble champion score his last runs

She traveled miles to see shiny cars
go round and round screeching under the scorching sun
she grimaced at a missed chance
to see a legend play The Wall live

Then she grew older and life got meaner
ugly souls she was lost among
Amid the clamor she found one day
a heart of gold that swept her off the feet

She thought of the first time he kissed her brow
his stubble prickling her cheeks
his moist eyes when she promised she would marry him
the last words he whispered in her ear

There was a tear in her eye, not one of pain
alone but not lonely
A content woman it was
that they laid to rest that night.

The clock keeps ticking, and I go back to the present tense. I promised to write something positive, hope I did justice to that. This was inspired by a friend's post on how life would be, looking back from the end. Now playing: Rudiger by Mark Knopfler