Waiting

February 28, 2022
'I was hoping you'd come,' said the white-haired woman.
She watched the light on the water.
She studied the leaves on the trees,
and she looked up at the silver sky.
'It's beautiful, here,' she said.
'Don't you think?'

(Pause.)

The white-haired woman and the dishevelled little owl
watched a grey cloud, drifting,
and a brown leaf, falling,
and a yellow flower, opening,
and a tiny bee, buzzing,
and sighed.    

(Pause.)

The dishevelled little owl considered the white-haired woman's face.
She saw the lines criss-crossing her forehead.
She observed the dark spots on her skin,
and she noticed the shadows under her eyes.
'Such a life,' she thought.
'Yes,' she said. 'It is beautiful, here.'