Driving the back way through the parking lot near the apartment,
I saw a woman who was walking directly into my path.
I figured I would have to press the brakes to let her cross,
and I was annoyed.
She was a few years older than me, her gray tufts
framing her slightly wrinkled face, her head crowned with
a red knit cap. I considered how she so boldly wore
a red jacket, red pants, and sneakers.
She was spry as all get out, you could tell.
The spring in her step not matching the early hour
nor my sedentary, half groggy brain. Her arms swung
a simple, but light rhythm as she moved.
I slowed, wondering if she was fast enough
to cross the road before I met her. If we reached
the crossing at exactly the same time, I could
see her eyes and maybe know more about her.
I proceeded on, but for a moment a tree
blocked my vision, I was surprised to see
she had retreated, turned around and headed
back from where she had come.
Sad that I had been annoyed, I wondered
about her life, her secret, her energy–
so positive even from a distance.
We would not meet, but I was happy we did.
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