Godspeed, Old Woman
by Esmerelda Little Flame

My neighbor down the street
she picks up odd peices of
sticks or litter
She wanders aimlessly
and stands in the middle of traffic
She tries to uproot other
peoples
bushes
in their yards
swearing that they belong to her

My neighbor has a son
who doesn't much care
what happens
when she wanders

I wish I could believe the world she
flies into in her mind
was peaceful

I wish I could believe she was not
afraid
or confused
by all the shifting realities
all the shifting memories

My neighbor lives in a fluid world
of images
some terrifying some beautiful
There is no controlling the them
There is no predicting them

She has surrendered to Chaos
which has its own beauty and power

I cannot go with her
there

but prayer can go anywhere

Godspeed, old woman

Godspeed