A monthly contest for formal poetry in rhyme and meter.
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Lonely Grey Lady At McDonalds She has hunched over shoulders, looks under the weather Grey streaked and unbrushed hair Wears old worn out shoes and threadbare sweater Seems lonely and lost, filled with despair Lips move without sound, hands gesture at no one, No one’s close by, no one’s around Lonely old lady, so restless and winsome Sadness and sorrow seems to surround Sitting for hours, alone, sipping one coffee Watching other customers come and go Peering into other’s lives, staring intently As if she could know them by watching them so Two tables over, another lady is watching The old lady talking to no one, and then, Rises and walks to her side, smiling and nodding Gives to her, her own sandwich and then pats her hand Grey lady accepts it without saying a word Nods slightly to acknowledge the kindness Seems nervous and skittish, eyes like a wild bird Stares into space, gaze distant and mindless Aura of emptiness abounds within and around her As she painfully rises and prepares to depart Her invisible companions, talk and surround her As she shuffles away, her life in her cart Grey lady leaves me with a sense of wonder That some people, so lonely, suffer so much It seems indifferent fate, shreds some lives asunder While blessing others with caring families warm touch Most people live, complacent and uncaring Of the family and friends that surround them While many grey ladies exist, gesturing and staring Sentenced for life in their own private sanctum |