(no subject)

I went to see an old lady
alone in a big house.
Husband died two months ago, she
Can't even use the telephone.
Everything had always been done for her,
you see.
She was hostile. "I don't need you.
I don't need anyone. Except him."
And then she cried.

"I was beautiful once,"
she said - and she still is.
Transparently, as if
already a ghost.

"What would we talk about anyway?"
she said. And I thought
we could talk about loss
or gardening
or old films
but she was right
I may know of grief
but I don't know what it is
to be helpless,
frail, and old.

"You have red hair,"
she said. "I had red hair.
"And I didn't have to dye it,
either."


And i made my excuses and left
Well, you can't force people
If they say they want to be
alone
in a big house.