for 3/21

[Marian O'Grady]

Best Happy Ending

Senior citizens arrive—each with a cane, a walker or a wheelchair.

They come to listen to poetry readings.

I select a poem from my collection In the Gloaming.

Ilona asks me to read another, then another.

Carly comments: “The last one has a sad ending.”“Yes, Carly, my poem

is sad. Just like life, poems don’t always have a happy ending.”

In their moist eyes I read “yes, yes, how true.” Each one has a story.

Maria speaks out: “I used to write poems—I want to write again.” 

Howard, age 90, vows: “I must write poems about my family,

for my family—before I forget it all.” An explosion of laughter.

Dawn asks if we can meet again. Everyone nods. We agree to meet 

same time, same place each month.

Mike calls out: “Thank you for this.” Spontaneous applause—

gnarled fingers clapping, wrinkled cheeks smiling, eyes all aglow.

From my wheelchair, I witness the best happy ending!

©Marian O’Grady