A New Dawn

Here comes a new dawn
The hues of morn
Colours the eastern sky
Freshness of air
Crisps and cool
A joy to see and feel
Everyday
But not today

She turns over
Tears on her pillow
Pulls the blanket closer
No answering tug today
No mumbles of protest
Or hands on her hip
Or playful tug on her nightie
Or night breathe on her cheeks

She closes her eyes
as a little girl snuggles
wriggling into her worn arms
no more waking up
to make coffee
no more joy in making bread
on the old stove
or eating a man’s bad cooking

She never wants to get up
To see the crowd they made
Through forty years of love
Nine girls with nine grooms
Twenty-five grandchildren
Worn, he had slipped away
To the land
beyond the mountain

She hopes he remembers
The welcome mat
When she comes.