Ageless Laughing

Wheeled in from the cold,
wearing layers of winter clothes,
her aging daughter brings
her to a table close to the door.
The years on her face
are apparent by the loose skin
drooping from her cheekbones,
eyes sinking into her face as her 
eyelids spill over into her line of sight.
The sparce wisps of white hair
on the sides of her head
stick out a little like that of a clown,
the top of her head more or less bald.
She reaches for the coffee
her daughter brought to the table,
and holds the mug with both hands,
bringing it slowly to her lips. 
At first glance,
her obvious vulnerability 
brought tears to my eyes....
But then something made her laugh,
and the smile on her face
was all I could see now. 
I didn't see old age anymore,
I didn't see vulnerability,
I only saw a mom and her daughter
drinking coffee and laughing about something
I would never know.
I turned back to my own coffee
and smiled as I raised the cup to my lips.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2010

Poem

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Sweetheart Avatar
December 8, 2010 at 5:10 AM
Wonderful expressions of emotion in this piece Katie .. excellent descriptive lines... I read my poetry twice a week at many senior citizen facilities and children's hospitals and seeing the smiles on their faces is the reason for writing ... sharing a gift that brings joy to others.. enjoyed your wonderful poetry today and thankxxx for your sweet and special comments on my reads with luv..
Brown Avatar
December 8, 2010 at 5:00 AM
I am reading some very amazing and diverse poetry this morning. I am glad yours was among the poetry I was able to read today. Thank you for sharing your writing with us Katie. Wishing you and yours a wonderful Holiday Season. Love,Carol
Neels Avatar
December 8, 2010 at 3:38 AM
Wow Katie, you painted a vivid picture with your words and you so aptly titled as well. Thanks for the smiles with this write..In the end the laughing made a big difference. Thank you for your comment and I am sorry for what you had to go through as well.. Wilma
Kendrick Avatar
December 7, 2010 at 5:19 PM
Things are only how we see them sometimes..Very expressive work..Sara
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