Martja

 

 

When nearly everyone else was seated

She wandered to a pew

Dressed in her red sweatshirt and jeans

Holding a small worn doll

She called sweetiepie

Her gray hair was tied back

In a long pony tail

And smiling

She called out to people she recognized

Hello April. Hello Jimmie. Hello Sandy.

They nodded in reply

While she alone broke the silence

That tried to respect death

Then she sat through the service

Twirling her hair in her fingers

And rubbing her face

And fidgeting

And grieving with all of us