She catches my eye – this dark-eyed lady
at the table in the window; wouldn’t call her
pretty, but a certain presence pervades.
She wears a bronzed, ethnic necklace,
simple jeans, and a T shirt; even still –
a sartorial elegance.
The man with her – her partner, I assume,
handsome...for his age – perhaps a touch
more youthful than she. The young folk
in the gathering appear to be their children;
the smaller ones, maybe their grandkids.
Her smile, charming, charismatic –
she has that knack of being everything
to everyone...regardless of maturity;
not presumptuous or condoning,
just the gift of the gab.
She eats enthusiastically – shows a penchant
for red wine – enjoys her drink, gets ever so
slightly tipsy. At ease with her years, sixty
to sixty-five, maybe; hard to tell with people
like that who grow older but never age.
Says she’ll pay the bill, in full knowledge
nobody will let her...
Makes her way to the exit like a woman
not asking for respect but knowing
she commands it. Her little grandson
wheels her to the door; she smiles
as he pretends to pant; tells him,
‘Thank you. Well done, my man!’
The look on her face, and his, says it all,
and I envy her... this dark-eyed lady,
and the peace she’s made with the world.
Comments
insertponceyfre... | July 27, 2011 - 13:23
a very good bit of people watching!
Kilb50 | July 27, 2011 - 14:05
You capture the scene perfectly, Silver, with some smart playful lines along the way - "She says she'll pay the bill, in full knowledge nobody will let her..." all very good!
skinner_jennifer | July 27, 2011 - 15:17
Like insert said, a very good bit of people watching,
just think the lady in question has a poem about her,
how wonderful!
I really enjoyed this poem Tina.
Jenny.
oldpesky | July 27, 2011 - 16:30
This is simply stunning.
Highhat | July 27, 2011 - 17:43
Wonderful and then she is bound to a wheel chair- you are certainly observant Tina- well done-and you can put it into words- you are clever and lucky.
;)Pia
Silver Spun Sand | July 27, 2011 - 18:26
Don't you just love it too, insert? Methinks you excel, also;-)
Hey...and thank you.
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | July 27, 2011 - 18:27
So good to hear from you Kib, and again I would congratulate you on your latest poem. Really did enjoy, and pleased you enjoyed mine and appreciate your telling me;-)
Silver
Silver Spun Sand | July 27, 2011 - 18:28
My goodness, Jenny, you are always so 'on the ball'. Really appreciate your lovely comments; so thoughtful, as ever.
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | July 27, 2011 - 18:29
op - thanks. Pleased you thought so;-)
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | July 27, 2011 - 18:33
Hi again, Pia;-) The sun did finally shine, and the butterfly park was AMAZING. I have been going every year on my birthday for the last decade. This year, it was just myself and other half, as my daughter is away on her hols. It was always a very important family occasion, and the place holds very precious memories of years gone by, as you can imagine.
So pleased you liked this poem, Pia; it too has quite a history, but that, as they say, is quite another story;-)
Tina
maggyvaneijk | July 27, 2011 - 19:36
you are very skilled at the art of people watching AND able to articulate your findings so beautifully!
Silver Spun Sand | July 27, 2011 - 21:01
Maggy - many thanks. It is a labour of love, most certainly;-)
Tina
seashore | July 27, 2011 - 21:11
Happy birthday Tina - I'm a people-watcher too. Cafe Nero is my place for that, all local life is there.
Anyway, much enjoyed reading this.
skinner_jennifer | July 27, 2011 - 21:36
Hi Tina,
just popped back to say Happy Birthday too.
Jenny.
Silver Spun Sand | July 28, 2011 - 06:50
Cafe Nero sounds interesting;-) Must pay a visit, sometime.
So pleased you enjoyed and thanks for telling me, and for the birthday wishes;-)
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | July 28, 2011 - 06:52
Jenny, how sweet of you. Thank you, and I did have a lovely birthday, but unfortunately another year older, but hey...what the heck!!;-)
Tina
barryj1 | July 28, 2011 - 16:14
Ditto on what everyone else has already noted above. I liked the uplifting tone. The woman in the wheelchair took center stage and stole the show. I tell my two daughters constantly that everybody's got issues - some more obvious than others.
MistakenMagic | July 28, 2011 - 17:11
Ah, people-watching never fails to inspire, does it, Tina? This is a brilliant piece - your writing is always so visual. I can see the woman now! Well done on the cherry :)
Magic xxx
Silver Spun Sand | July 28, 2011 - 18:38
How right you are in what you tell you daughters, barry;-) Wise words indeed, and thanks for reading my words.
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | July 28, 2011 - 18:40
Hi there, Magic;-) You enjoy it too, then, as most of us, if we're honest. Pleased you enjoyed and thanks so much for taking time out to tell me. Hope your holidays are going well, and not too quickly, I hope;-)
Tina xxx
Overthetop1 | July 28, 2011 - 19:16
What a lovely feel this poem has to it Tina. I can actually visualise thsi woman - which is a real art. It also made me feel so much better about the ageing `thing' we women get so hung up about.
Silver Spun Sand | July 28, 2011 - 20:55
Interesting...you picked up on the 'feel' of this, OTT. Its roots are close to home, and more than that I shall not say, but thank you, so very much, both for your intuition, and your wise words;-)
Tina