She sat in a rickety old rocking chair
on the porch of the even older house
looking across the grey lake.
Her nose was red from the cold air.
She rocked, humming a song
generations old
Her voice, husky with age

and she glanced at the
rocking chair adjacent to hers,
empty
the seat worn from constant use.

Looking back out across the lake
she smiled
and wiped a single tear from her ancient cheek.