Empty evening sunlight filters through slanted blinds
Conflicting with the sad flickering light of the television
She sits on the old sofa, living through her streaked window
Peering past the valence to watch her life unfold.
The tired lights meet, and drift up toward the unyielding fluorescent glow.
Her gaze moves slowly across the room, resting on each familiar object, each precious artifact kept hidden from the world.
She has long since given up pleading time to stop
Too many minds disagree with her, urging it to go on quicker than before,
Making promises with it that she never could.
Time favors the young.
As the sun sets the room appears brighter than before.
Her wedding bands, binding her to no one, rest limply on her worn fingers,
twisting and turning and longing to be free.
And as her scarred eyelids begin to fall she enters her world.
The fluorescent bulbs seem more forgiving and music plays lightly
Familiar souls gather close, smiling down at her.
Slowly her wrinkles lift away and her hair tumbles down to frame her face.
She can remove her glasses and share a whisper.
And when she speaks of her dreams, they are embraced.
The soft dawn light wakes her tenderly,
Kissing her peaceful face
Filling her with the hope and laughter of her youth.
This morning she does not sit and gaze at the gentle beams as they descend from the sky.
She does not sit meekly in the sad glow of her future.
She slips gracefully out the front door and embraces the warm light, embraces her life and gives it meaning.
