the old woman sits on the park bench, alone
with her memories
most vivid, those from long ago
like in 1936, her father teaching her to drive
she still sees the dark gray ‘32 ford cabriolet
smells the black leather seats
and hears the sputtering sound of the engine
as the car climbs the steep hill near their house
fighting the tears, she remembers the ford
sitting in the garage, untouched for 3 months
after her father went off to the war
he never returned from
she still sees the chair, at the head of the table
where her father sat, empty
long after her mother died
now, she sits alone, remembering
small parts of her life, just before
darkness falls on the park bench
and death removes all memories
Poetic Alchemist 
Gautami: Thanks. Glad you found it and liked it.
God, I had missed reading all this. Sorry for not visitng before,.
Thanks so much Floots, Soulless, Polona, Kent, Aurora and Dan for your comments. As always, they are appreciated.
The last two poems are focused obviously on aging and how we see and cope with this reality.
There is a fragileness and freedom that simultaneously overtakes us as we grow older and certain parts of our lives fall aside, hopefully making room for new things to grow–this life or the next.
a downbeat evocative tragedy
thank you don
A most beautiful final, “final” line which effects, in me, both a sense of sorrow and a strange sense of wonder at the “newness” that (dare I hope) comes after death. A blank slate, perhaps, waiting to be rewritten on.
Thank you. ^_^
oh, this is a wonderful poem,don! tugs at the heart.
Your last two posts have been really wonderful. I found myself totally caught up in them. I’m not quite there yet, though the beard is turning gray and the body is starting to complain about getting up in the morning, but I so identify with what you’ve written. Both are really moving. Thank you.
Wow, this is good! And I like the twist on this: an old woman remembering her father, as opposed to an old man revelling in memories, or an old woman having flashbacks of a life in general. Fathers are very important, aren’t they? Well done, Don!
Ohhh!!!!
Jel: Thanks. Wishing you well. Yes, a touch of sadness, but still alive is her father in her memories.
so sad ! 😕
and the old woman fits well here (me)
Nasra: Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Delicate as she release her memeories ..thank you