and bring me
my shawl
she said
to the memory of two portraits
hanging on the wall.
"It's been far too long
since
you both left me"
while she acknowledged the fact
they were once
a family of three.
"I grieved over my husband
losing his life
in a war.
Then our son followed his father's footsteps
and it happened
once more.
So please comfort an old woman
and bring me
my shawl
before the tears of the present
continue
to fall."
She fell asleep by the fireplace
as two hands
did appear
and with one on each shoulder
their presence
made it clear.
The shawl was placed
over the old woman
by a couple of familiar men
who still loved her
right now
as they did back then.
*********************************************************************