To see an old friend dwindle,

shrink, melt, into herself

disappearing word by word

and name by name.

Who she is, is not who she was;

who she is, is not who she will be.

 

Inside, her spirit shines,

gleams with an inner light

as if it has coalesced,  concentrated, curled into her depths

like a seed waiting in the earth

for the spring rains.

 

I saw it look out of her eyes.

They twinkled like once ago.

Then the twinkle blinked back inside to hide

and once again the woman who was

became the woman who is, who has become,

for now.

Written by Tasha Halpert – North Grafton, MA

Photo by Cheron James

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