more beautiful, then today

He saw her there, this morning.

behind the counter,

of the gas station.

She must have risen early,

to begin the morning shift,

her hair all beautifully formed.

She had always been this beautiful,

to him,

He often wondered why,

she selected him.

He had seen her mornings,

in the days before,

when she dyed her hair,

and permed it, so it would take a curl,

from the iron.

He had seen her,

with a burbing cloth, on her back,

from the newborn's, her and mom raised,

together.

Following the example of a mom,

who in her golden years,

had a pail of cloth diapers,

soaking in, the bathroom.

Now there is the grandchild,

she and a daughter are nurturing,

this day.

Comforting this grandchild,

who has emptied his stomach,

Into her lap.

That child then following,

like a young duckling,

as she heads to the bedroom,

to clean up.

Her hair is in silver now,

on part from accident,

that restricted a dye job,

and partly as a gift to him,

as he loved her natural beauty.

Yes she had never been more beautiful,

to him, today.

Updated July 7 2024