SMILE & TIME.

A MAN SMILES AT AND AGING DAME IN A SHOPPING MALL AND MAKES HER DAY

Johnny smiles
at the old dame

in the shopping mall
she seems surprised

to get a smile
as if she wasn't entitled

to a smile anymore
she must be

late 60s maybe
grey hair done up

in a bunch at the back
hair slide thing

gripping there
her glasses are

thick framed
brown in colour

his smile is infectious
as she smiles back

as if the smile
has taken her back

a few decades or more
when she used to walk

some beach
slightly clad

waving younger hips
maybe as she walked

having men gawk at her
and whistle

at her beauty
now she sits

and is surprised
by a smile

that Johnny gives
on passing by

watching him go
wishing time

would go
as slow.

Author's Note

ART BY LAURA KNIGHT