There is a woman
one long braid trailing her back
worn brown by the sun
whole life was undone
the day he left her.
No word
not even a whisper
to echo in the empty hollows
of her heart.
She walks apart
from the world
not in it.
Her mind long gone
not living but
barely existing
unnoticed nearly by
everyone
but the sparrow
who sings to her
from the tree.
Copyright Aug 8 2010 Melissa A Howells Meloo
This lady was a teacher at an elementary school in our neighborhood for a long time.
One day her husband abruptly left her, just emptied out the house and left without
a single word, an explanation. She wanders the neighborhood, homeless. One especially
warm day I approached her, asked her if she'd like something cool to drink, something
to eat. She stopped momentarily, pointed up at the tree where I could hear a bird singing,
shook her head NO and then moved on. Life can be a tsunami. But she taught me something
memorable. Still the teacher, teaching.