He sits across the table in a quiet mood
Holding the paper with both hands,
Concentrated on the daily news.
"Anything good?"   I ask.
His lips and eyes smile looking at me.
"There's the sad news,
And then there's the depressing news,"
He says, smiling again.
This time his eyelids, two tired butterflies,
Cover his eyes---I cannot see their smile.

                               * * *
09/19/2008(c)Vilma Vitanza
Berkeley, CA