Ten

Ten

Ten twisted fingers gnarled and bent.
The old woman’s' hands clutched one cent
Her back was bent from age, her face so gaunt,
Yet there she walked, as if without wants

Ten maids hurried past on the path that day
They were loudly talking, but had nothing to say
So young they were, not a care about their elders
One day they’d learn, from age you can’t shelter

Ten toes ached on the old woman’s feet
She had to stop, finally taking a seat
She sighed as she sat, knowing today was her last
Her life was done, her time had passed

Ten little children ran in circles round her seat
None of them understood why she felt so beat
One girl stopped and gave her a smile,
The old woman sat there, admiring their guile

Now one child’s smile had made her day,
The old woman strengthened, went on her way
For that child’s smile had restored her gait,
She shuffled along, toes and fingers now straight

Ten years later, more pained than before
She set off for the market, walking slowly once more
Beside her a young girl, ten years older now
Thought of how one smile, made her take a vow

Ten times ten she would wonder for a while
Why they’d connected from just a simple smile
Her vow with her, was to serve and learn
Leaving her complete, never having to yearn

Ten years past, now the old woman has died
A beautiful young woman in her house resides
Carrying on the craft of witchery and spells
Looking for an apprentice, only time would tell

Jim Dorrell
9/16/10