We talk about so many little creatures in animal shelters, alone, disposed of, abandoned, the last recourse of lives trying to do the right thing and yet, heart breaking.
Then, we have our elderly, in other kind of "shelters" no less alone, no less abandoned, no less heart breaking.
If we ask one of them...what would we hear?

I was a little girl that used
to play with special dolls
until Santa on Christmas
came with a puppy dog,
a quick funny little thing
full of warmth and love.

Today I am an old woman
with a sudden recall
of an exiting face search
by a little and dry nose,
a wagging little tail
and a yapping little voice.

Solitude, not for old people,
like to imagine a companion
that got older with me
as we wait at the end for God.
Elderly solitude, no little friend
to walk that last mile, but alone.