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Alice Bent Over

A gathering of elders
from the local rest home
is out for a walk after dusk

on canes and walkers 
admiring roses and lilies 
and a pond of rainbow koi 

except for Alice trailing 
without cane or walker 
whose head is bent over   

at the neck so she sees
nothing but ants 
scurrying around her.

Alice is the letter “L” 
upside down forever. 
She will never see the sun

light up the sky or the stars 
glow in the night or the halo 
of moonlight falling around her.



Donal Mahoney

Copyright © | Year Posted 2017




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Date: 3/22/2017 2:05:00 PM
Beautiful and sad.
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The Insolent Rib Avatar
Maureen McGreavy The Insolent Rib
Date: 3/22/2017 3:28:00 PM
I have seen it. A gentleman in my neighbourhood; I always make a point of meeting his smile when I see him out and about.
Mahoney Avatar
Donal Mahoney
Date: 3/22/2017 2:11:00 PM
Maureen, It's a condition called Dropped Head Syndrome among other names. Until one sees it one cannot imagine the effect on the observer never mind the afflicted. I saw two people with it in one day. Enough for a lifetime.

Book: Reflection on the Important Things