Chasing Shadows

Face of woman etched with time shoulders slumped on heaped up shadow casting truth on rippling waters casting tales on rippled life trophies of  her life surround her gentle hands touch and stroke her wrapping chords of sweet remembrance glistening hair in summer's light Face of woman smudged with makeup once applied with care and purpose call to those that then would court her now a costume for her day                keep the focus                 on the lovely                will the heart                away from lonely                weigh the truth                with easy measure                keep the hope alive lost, the days of old  and worn graying hair and wrinkled form now surrendered to the shadows tied with daylight's soft reminders hair that glistened in the sunshine lips the color of a red wine heart that beat a perfect rhythm keep the hope  alive Face of woman etched in silver hid in lockets still remembered passed along from child to children keeping hope  alive