ELEGY

as the dusk heightens against an early
winters backdrop, she walks, her head down
as she thinks of; of him, he so full of presence of
life itself, bigger than he; entering a room and
so quickly noticed, she smiles at that; of him, of them
how happy they were, planning each day together
never thinking it would end like this-she walks past
the lines of river birch, and scrub, as singular leaves
brush past her shoulder; she enters through the gate
to the small church yard and the cemetary beyond
within a stones throw, she stands in front of a stone
with a familar name, husband, son, father- as she reflects
on a life not fully lived- had she only known; on what could
have been, but will now never be- as a cold drizzle distracts her
on further thoughts of him, she turns with sentiments now lost into
the air itself- - she walks on alone arms folded against her chest
as she steps back into the approaching night

by Michael Perry