Apologia pro vita sua

[PrinceMyshkin]

Walking home I encounter a middle-aged
or somewhat older woman leading her dog.
Behind her what I take to be her companion
with a dog of his own.

I smile at her and note a look of surprise
and maybe mild hunger on her face.
She offers her shattered beauty
like an apologia pro vita sua.




Jerry Newman © 27Dec07

[motherhubbard]

a little sad really and leaves me with a lot of questions. a little moment in time. I love poetry about observations

[PrinceMyshkin]

a little sad really and leaves me with a lot of questions. a little moment in time. I love poetry about observations

Thank you. The questions, of course - if they are about her - will remain forever unanswered because that was most likely the only 30 seconds that she and I will ever share on this earth!

[ampoule]

Middle-aged or somewhat older women are often surprised that a man would take the time to smile or engage them in a look. Was her shattered beauty her age?
I like the poem and the moment in time.

[PrinceMyshkin]

Middle-aged or somewhat older women are often surprised that a man would take the time to smile or engage them in a look. Was her shattered beauty her age?
I like the poem and the moment in time.

Yes, I could see that she must have been pretty once but that age had not been altogether kind to her - and possibly that she was aware of that.

[ampoule]

Yes, I could see that she must have been pretty once but that age had not been altogether kind to her - and possibly that she was aware of that.

Yes, that's when they look away first, not wanting to see the disinterest.

[Pendragon]

And for that reason thought you the kinder that you would smile and notice her. A forgotten flower, faded on the stem, getting one more look anyway! Lovely!