I met a Lady today.....

 

I met a lady today for the very first time

She appeared sedate and composed

A sadness had been drawn across her weathered face

At first she caught my eye as she sat close to me

We were part of a much larger group

I suppose she must be a little older than I

Occasionally there was the flicker of a smile

She was attentive to her surroundings and conversed now and then

Yet she retained a certain composure

Her conversation was not flippant rather economic

I was drawn to her quite inexplicably

It was clear that she was well educated

Her eyes held her intellect at bay

A reservation was present but her sadness was evident

I was perplexed. We spoke in brief exchanges

After the group dispersed my partner, forever perceptive

Told me that her husband was hospital bound with chronic dementia

During the group she had never once alluded to this

His words wounded my soul as I too became deeply saddened 

At the next meeting I shall befriend her

and ask if I might sit with her