In Limbo
her husband
had somewhere to be
her kids, too
so she’s standing there
fidgeting
can’t feel her feet
no one to follow
forgot how to lead
how to walk into a room
and it be enough
she used to dress up
for no particular reason
but pretty
pearls and perfume
heels and hose
lipstick and polish
but that was ago
now she hasn’t
the time
nor the inclination
or form to fit
or will to want
and it happened to her
on an ordinary day
much like today
when she wasn’t looking
like how her kids grew
her husband, too
how sixteen
handed her a senior discount
she didn’t ask for
how her teenage daughter
slammed out the door
how her husband ignored
and in the thicket
she gets a call
at 3 a.m.
her daddy’s dead
and her mama
hasn’t a clue
and it’s all she can do
to pray
and in the blur
she’s faced with it
like that photo somebody took
and made her look at
and the choice
is hers
get up or sit down
TL