The Melody

Image by Artie_Navarre from Pixabay

The Melody

 

“The absence of the Witch does not / Invalidate the spell”

Emily Dickinson

 

 

I sometimes remember the scraps of the melody in the morning.

I can never recall the lyrics.

Dreams are useless nonsense, anyway.

Morning coffee takes care of all that junk.

I have my coffee strong and bitter, on an empty stomach.

Then I go about my business.

I never strive for what I can’t achieve.

I know what I can or can’t do.

No one needs to remind me of my limitations.

The melody sometimes returns at lunch time.

I try not to stay alone with my thoughts for too long.

Busy hands and a busy mind and another cup of bitter coffee.

I always smile.

Never cry in public, she said.

Others will pity you and you don’t want pity.

You know what you can or can’t do.

You know what your limitations are.

Crying won’t fix that and it is childish.

You are not a child.

I catch a glimpse of her in the mirror in the evening.

A middle-aged woman now.

The image is somewhat blurred because I need new glasses,

so it may or may not be her after all.

Maybe it’s me now.

I’ll never be quite sure.

GloPoWriMo Early Bird Prompt - the poetry of Emily Dickinson