there was an old woman
who stood waiting
for her husband
of 52 years to pick her up
by the bus stop that I used
close to where I lived
in Philadelphia
she worked as a teacher at
the elementary school
a few blocks away
we would chat as
I waited for the 3:35 bus
even if it rained she would
stand their with her
blue umbrella and
her blue rain boots
and she had this wonderful
smile
the ones reserved for old ladies
who saw everyone younger
as grandchildren of their own
and the husband would meander
up the road in his '97 Lincoln
as I'd be getting on the bus
and I would watch him kiss her
on the cheek like he'd done
for 52 years and
she would smile as
I rode away

one rainy day
I came down
but the old lady
must have been picked
up by her loving husband
already because I didn't see
her by the stop
I got on the bus
and there she was
sitting