i saw the saddest woman in the world yesterday.
on this bench, with chipped stucco blobs of paint
waiting outside gammy's, an ice cream cafe
owned by an obese texan lady who never can
remember my name, or the flavor of the day.
but the somber woman framed perfectly in
the front window, looked concerned about
the state of the earth. the lines on her face
were heavy with knowledge and her eyes
indicated her lonely wait. she was not
observing anything, just allowing her
mind to wander into the atoms of thought
focusing on something very far away.
her wispy blonde hair revealed age here
and there, tossed by the upcoming trade winds
her land's end shirt fitting like those
cotton blends fit on all middle aged women
with no chest to speak of. perhaps
she was on vacation alone. or maybe she
was meeting a friend of sorts. but i knew
from her looks there was nobody coming
anytime soon. the way her lips relaxed in
a frown. the cradling posture of a mother.
the unfrustrated hand bag satcheled to her
side, these things did not unveil her purpose
but they did make obvious her state of mind.
we saw her, the world and i, we looked upon her
weary face, full of guilt and worry for nearly
everything. i hoped the cruise line would remember
to give her a pillowmint. i hoped the flight attendants
wouldn't spill coffee on her. i spent all of
two seconds peering at her through the passenger seat
and then she was gone, and i stared at my seatbeat again.
Author notes
honest observation.
we spoke, i have no picture but the one i portrayed.
A contest entry
- people watcher by zillion.
300 points, ended May 7, 2008, 10 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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I like this poem. I'm not sure what else there is to say.
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its ashame you didnt use the title in there, i think its an excellent line that sums up so much. This is a good piece, after reading it i felt i didnt need to see the picture as i already had it so clear in my head. On first reactions, I thought this is prose not poetry, but fuck it, watever, its good and thats what mattered. There is alot of junk on this site but this was a good find. Good luck in the comp.
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<3
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loved your ending.
i love observations. love love love them.
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i enjoyed this poem a lot. you have a very unique eye for detail. your description of the scene was captivating. i partocularlry liked the possibilities for her being there that you ran through. great stuff!
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this is beautiful. I really don't know what else to say. other then I love the way you write.
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