Early yesterday
There was commotion outside
Half way between sleep and awake
She had heard the dogs
Barking
Up the trail across the brook
Her parents had greeted her
When she awoke
With veiled looks
No one spoke
The silence shook
She had fed her daughter
Handed her to the nurse
As she grabbed her purse
This morning was worse
She was alone
At the breakfast table
What happened
She would have asked
If she was able
Spent extra time
At her daughter’s cradle
She might only work half day today
This weekend would change
The amount of time available
To spend with the bundle
That was once attached
By her navel
The wonders of life
Almost distracted her
From the feeling of being
On the outside looking into a secret
And it seemed strange
That avoidance
Was the only way they could keep it
She went for a walk
On the route that was most scenic
But everything was grey
And the beauty it once held
She no longer sees it
There was no longer a life force
She could feel flowing
Anemic
So caught up in her confusion
She almost didn’t see it
A piece of paper
Lodged cleverly in the gate
Wait
She paused
Then decided it was safe
Pulling it out of its hiding place
She read
And
The only way to understand
What she was thinking
Was to look at her face
The opportunity had past
Yesterday morning
At the gate
But wait
It wasn’t too late
As she read further
The lines that brought sunlight
Back to the path
A stranger walking by
Might have laughed
Or been frightened
At a solitary woman
In the middle of nowhere
Dancing with glee
Because the paper had vanished
With the wind
Imaginary
Lines maybe
Said
“I’ll be
At the place we first met.
The first secret you told me
And I kept.
I’ll be there morning to evening
For five days
If I don’t see you
I’ll regret
To part ways…”
She glided back up the pathway
Knowing there would be no work
Today