The Old Lady

With furrowed brow and silvered hair Crumpled low in her rocking chair Draped in a shawl of tattered lace A thousand years upon her face And sallowed cheeks, the rosy cast Of girlhood having long since passed She raised her eyes up to the sun For now she knew her life was done So many stories she had told Across the years as she grew old But now the time was drawing near To be with those she loved most dear She meekly smiled and gave a sigh In mem`ry of the years gone by Then glanced down at her wedding band Hung loose upon her withered hand Her eyes then gazed towards the place Where stood a portrait of his face The first and only love she`d known Which blossomed like a rose, full grown Yet as she looked, her eyes grew dim (She thought she caught a glimpse of him) But only shadows filled the room The wilted rose no more to bloom She stroked her hair and touched her breast Where once her sleeping children pressed - Bereft and left alone to weep She passed into eternal sleep