Painting for Lemonade

painting for lemonade

an ancient man, brittle
on a wooden stool, slowly
painting his gate-post.
a day of raw sunshine,
but autumn will soon
roll over the horizon.
by winter the
rust-proof paint will
really come into its own.

he looks hot
and a little bothered.
behind him,
an elderly woman
with slow steps and a patient smile,
brings him lemonade
with a gentle hand,
on his shoulder.
from the gesture,
it looks home-made.

how many gate-posts?
how many glasses
of lemonade?
have these two shared.

something that started out
so exquisitely,
with such simple unfolding,
has lasted,
so beautifully long.

i hope when their time comes,
it comes together.

they look as though
they couldn’t function
separately.