Today I served Easter dinner to the seniors

Down at the local community hall

I wondered what it must be like

To have no one to love at all

The Mayor was there, the aldermen

The priest and reverend too

The first made solemn speeches

The next said prayers it’s true

The seniors ate their dinners hungrily

Like this would be their last

They eyed the extra desserts

Hoping they wouldn’t go too fast

A little old lady afterwards

Came up and took my hand

She didn’t have to say a word

She’d known I’d understand

From a bag she took a baggy

Filled it with turkey to the brim

In another she put potatoes

Filled it up nice and trim

Dressing wrapped in tin foil

Gravy into a bottle poured

The staff raised their eyebrows

I signalled this should be ignored

When finished she said “It’s for my friend

Who lives just down the street

She was too sick to come today

So I’ll bring to her this little treat”

I put my arms around her

Somebody’s mother now alone

In her threadbare coat I slipped my last twenty

As I watched her hobble home.