The Waiting Game

[jbstillwater]

artwork by Katherine Luke, Abstract Wizardries and Design

They will play till dark'
flicker of street lights announce
time for dinner and home
She waits
Yet, shadows upon wooden slats
say she packs her dolls alone,
this time.
.
Losing herself in this game
before the next minute arrives
bringing salvation on a tray.
She prays for the peace that never comes,
as the baby cries for her breast,
not ready for the day.
.
The table leans right, sticky.
Could that be him,
the Gent with the rose?
They did not say flowers -he smiles
and sits with the blonde,
the one with the rings.
Maybe next time.
.
The pouring window.
A whiskey flag flies.
That time between five and six,
when the world sits back, glass in hand.
Sweet banner announces
to take that first drink.
Thank God, its time!.
.

Curtains drawn.
He will come with cakes
He knows she loves tea,
a short visit , nice
when he brings the children.
They sit upon her knee
laughing into her folds of age.
.
Where has it gone?
.
Years engraved on her hands.
Maps that show more than she tells.
Sheets wet, changed in a minute.
The ticking of the clock.
The beating of her heart, one and the same.

While she waits.

[johan]

My eyes are wet Jan, what a truly lovely piece of poetry, Happy New Year to you and your family, may all you desire come true.

Hugs

Andrew

[rrw]

Nice, active portrait, JB. Lots of sad and beautiful phrases about life going on, sadly, without us, Waiting for something to happen for some one to pay attention is much more difficult when you get older...

[jbstillwater]

Thanks guys, ya, it seems as if our entire lives are spent "waiting" and yes, Robert, as we grow older I think that time may pass ever so slow

[Lisa Arnold]

love this, great writng, thanks for the post!

[rustybroadspear]

sadness abounds in all these scenes of life but they are all very real and disguise a deep beauty. Sometimes it is worth the wait but there are no guarantees.
Hope is regarded as a good thing and sometimes hope and waiting are very closely linked.
By the way I've been waiting for my computer to 'thaw' whilst writing this ............. and now it has !!!! see !!

[heart2heart]

So wonderfully phrased your words Jan for yes we do spend our life waiting for some thing or other. I tend to think years fly now as I get older and the day just doesn't have enough hours. Your poem is so heart-rendingly written and touches me this morning. Happy New Year to you m'dear !
Katriona

[purplespirit]

This moves the heart, stirs tears and the sighs prove that what you wrote is mere truth of life - perhaps to you and me too.... Thank you! Always wishing you well! Ulla xx

[b4sunset]

my jan.. i am under the spelll of this vivid scene...so full of symbolisms as if time never really wiats for anything, not even " years engraved on her hands.." stunning! hugggs and the best of the year to you!