she wandered down
always down
toward the sea
searching for the sunset
through the land that had once
belonged to her
always down
through garden and over
landscaped ground
never leaving a clue
to her passage
once or twice permission
was asked
but denied
through all that once
had been hers
for she was old
and decrepit
and the needle in her arm
through which could be viewed
the life blood startled
often transfixed
as she held forth
moving down
one or two were compassionate
when through the tube
there could be viewed only
an occasional drop
of viscous fluid fighting its way
to the surface, pulsing with her heart
as she was driven down
always down
through garden and drive
until she could find no other way
and asked another
but was denied
the imperative was strong
that she continued to seek
she moved slowly
ever so slowly
between the open gate toward
the goal she sought
but he tackled her
held her fast to the ground
threatened "you'll be
on the 6 o'clock news tonight"
his back turned
she continued to wander
always down
until she could no more
and stopped
a black wrought iron fence
restrained her as she held forth
her hand reaching
straining down
always down
toward the sea
searching for the sunset
fluids
ceased to flow
indeed she was on the news
the decrepit old woman
hand stretched forth
seeking downward
toward the sea
and the sunset just beyond
the vision of her last thoughts |
