Thin grey hair
falls loosely down her cheek
past canyons carved by sun and tears
past the twinkling blue eyes
that have loyally hidden her fears

Trembling, pale fingers
clutch each other tightly
dry, blotched skin rustling like paper
in the summer breeze

And she lets go,
the papers tumble away
the string of cat's-cradle
floats to the concrete beside the pool
As she gropes for the lightswitch