Their Laughter

is my song. As I limp around our
neighbourhood I contemplate
how life affects us all---

attitudes we bring along in our knapsack
of experiences. Along come two
young girls
one with orange hair the other wearing
glasses
quite attractive they are. I remember
mom working for .50 an hour as
a waitress for my $12 pair and a bully
breaking them first day at school in 1950.
Mom cried. And I turned away
not wishing to shame her. They did
that in those days.

The birds are my friends each day and
right now they flit along---a few chirp and
some simply flirt back
and forth across my path. Crows
wish to join my throng in spite of their
raucous serenade.
They have needs too.

As I rest on a bench images capture
me. Lost dreams and fulfillment clash
within the frame of me. Children
growing and wife praying complete
life’s desires.

Arthritic knee and remnants of a stroke
are ruts yet to overcome. And I will.

© Richard L. Provencher