By redplasticroses
Date: 2005 Apr 12
Comment on this Work
[[2005.04.12.02.25.26402]]

Mrs. Michael Terence Clancy

Once she was the queen of the ball
a blushing bride
mother of five
adored by everyone
Now, no longer sure of her name
she lives in a home
confined to a wheel chair
Day after day
she sits by the window
and waits for the sun to go down
until God calls her name

Usually she is content to stay inside
but there are times she cries until
someone takes her outside
for a walk
often in inclement weather

She sat staring out the window
mumbling to herself
about loving the musty scent
of damp earth after the rain
especially when the sun appeared
to turn on the steam...
oh yes, the way the sultry summer nights
forced sweat from her pores
and droplets ran from her forehead
down her cheeks
rolling slowly down her neck
and ever so gently found their way
to her cleavage
and her breasts
gentle, like  a lover's touch ...
yes, the damp earth after a rain
especially at this age
helps her remember
love

She turns to look at me
her steel gray eyes
glazed with her tears
appear translucent
I choke back my own

Her eyes fix on the horizon
"Why, I can still see him
that night in July
after the storm blew over......
it was hot, steamy hot
and the damp earth scented the air
musty and sensuous
almost hard to breathe
and there he was...
standing there in dress trousers
a pale blue starched shirt with cufflinks
a pack of Lucky Strike in his shirt pocket
his hair well groomed with Brillcream
not saying a word
just smiling at me
smiling
with his silly grin
God, he is handsome...
I see him leaning on his father's
new red Studebaker
shouting to the moon that we're in love
asking me if I will love him forever
You know I will, you silly boy
I love you now
And for always
Michael Terence Clancy
I love you!
I - LOVE - YOU!" she shouts loudly
Then turns to look at me
embarrassed her emotions
got away from her

Tears pour down her cheeks
And into her mouth
She wipes them away with her hands
Her lips quiver
"I'll bet you think
I'm an old foolish woman
don't you?"
"I'll bet you think
I don't know anything!"
And then she sobs......
"I don't even know my name.......
I don't know it, I don't know anything!"


Her body shakes
she sobs uncontrollably
I see flashes of myself in old age
thirty years from now
I grab her hand and squeeze it

"Mrs. Michael Terence Clancy, it's done raining
the sun is about to come out
would you like to go for a walk?"
She lifts her tear-stained face
and nods as our eyes meet
"Good, I'll push
you close your eyes
inhale
and remember everything about
the love you still have....
the love I hope to find."

Jmt (c) 2005