an elderly woman struggling with a big dog she’s walking on a leash

from the second story window of my apartment,
i see an elderly white-haired woman on the street below struggling
with a big german shepherd she’s walking on a leash

my first thought is old people shouldn’t be walking big dogs they cannot control

then i see what i believe is her husband walking with a cane
about twenty feet behind her, also white haired

i feel happy for them

i feel happy that they appear to have a relationship that
has survived when so many relationships get shipwrecked along the way

and though that may not be the case
they could have both been married and divorced before they met
i choose to believe they have a relationship that has endured and probably began when they were in high school

i remember how theirs was my dream

i remember how in high school i wanted to meet the right one
and be with her for the rest of my life

i realize i was too influenced by the fairy tales and the movies
where love always finds a way and last ever and ever

the elderly couple vanish from my vision
and thoughts of what might have been are gone from my mind.

bob boyd

Author: BobBoyd

Age 80. Cancer survivor since 3 years ago. Work out 3 times a week. Ride my exercise bike 2 hours a day. Live a solo reclusive life. Retired a year ago from working with the elderly in a nonprofit. Started writing poetry a little over a year ago; most poems I write are fictional but some are not. Spiritual with a permanent spiritual experience. Write poems on many subjects. Always researching for many of my poems and because of my unquenchable thirst for knowledge. After reading and hearing about many near death experiences and death bed visions, I believe death is the ultimate awakening and the relocation of a lifetime. You may believe differently, but you have the right to be wrong -- I'm just messing with you. :-) View all posts by BobBoyd