Memories of a Young Girl In Blue

Head down The old woman sews A dress Nimble fingers Marking each stitch The whirring of machines Whirling and whirling Round and round Threading memories Of another time Reminding her Of a night Long ago When she was afraid To speak to a boy Sitting next to her. As her busy fingers work She remembers more Of that summer night A blue cotton dress With tiny ribbons Lace curtains gently Pulled by a breeze Drifted out through opaque windows While musicians played a rhythm Of their own And shadows pranced On empty walls. Waiting that night She wondered Why no one Asked Her to dance. Old memories Glide by On silver sails And today?... She knows that today is now. And yesterday was yesterday Finished with her work She catches her breathe, Straightens her hair, And turns off the lights. Pausing to look back Into the darkened room Shadows return her glance With a gaping stare Adjusting to the darkness She begins to recognize Familiar shapes taking form Satisfied that all will be the same When she returns She closes the door. Going outside She holds onto her purse Waiting For a traffic light That has already Changed A smile crosses her face As she remembers When the boy Became her husband Children were born. And the years went by In a brown bag Neatly folded in two Is a blue chiffon dress Almost like the one She wore years ago Only this one Is for her granddaughter Impatient for no reason To go nowhere The crowd pushes forward But the old woman lingers On the corner Savoring the moment Glad of memories As a busy world saunters by.