Just a Woman

Just a Woman She stood in the cold, bitter salt spray masquerading as tears stinging her cheeks. North winds had come early, rough seas, maddened surf, no sight of sails in two weeks. She stood, leaning into the wind, just a woman. She stood in the warmth of spring sunshine hanging clothes on the sagging rope line, children using her as part of their game, dog barking at the approach of the mail truck. She stood, gazing into the empty mailbox, just a woman. She stood in the midst of dust dry fields watching a dream carried off on the arid winds nurtured the essence of their hope hefted the weight of fates harsh habits. She stood, hungry and tired, just a woman. She stood in the lush fields of happiness smiling on the future of her love, watching youth grow to man and womanhood move on toward their ever vague futures. She stood, teary eyed, waving goodbye, just a woman. She watched him slow in the achiness of age eyes dimming in the shadow of tomorrows, held his hand and walked the narrow corn rows rekindling the joy of youthful lovers. She stood, in loving’s dream, just a woman. John G. Lawless 5/30/2015 2019 Marathon Poetry Contest #4