The Separation One

The Young Woman

Awaiting this time all morning,

the young woman put on her

new chemise, slipped ‘peds’

onto her feet and her feet

into ‘flats’.

Applying lipstick and eyeliner,

she then studied her face in the mirror.

Weather permitting, she had spent

the days following the miles long

beach sidewalk wheeling her baby

in his buggy until she became tired

then would sit on a bench, feed her baby

then herself as all the while reflecting on the

sad state of her life… and marriage.

After sitting a while, the young woman

would begin the long walk home…

to the home of her parents.

The young woman had three reasons

for these long, solitary walks:

Always a sun worshiper, the walks gave

her an excuse to be out of doors and

the exercise helped her to sleep at night

because…

worrying about the divorce,

wondering if it was the right thing to do,

she found it hard to sleep.

Also…

The young woman was always desperate

to be out of the home of her parents,

and especially desperate to be away from her mother.

Five weeks of separation having caused untold stress,

although well-tanned from the days spent in the sun,

standing before the mirror; in her opinion she looked

drawn and haggard.

Actually her evaluation was pretty much correct.

To be continued

©October 30, 2011 / Mark M. Lichterman