What Was Is Again

a clear lingering memory

of a lonely little girl with

a pony tail and saddle shoes

wandering, alone, between happy groups

on the recess playground

so shy...so sad

trapped inside her own head

in time, miraculously

there was a friend...

one special connection

that made her feel

a velveteen rabbit sort of realness

for many years

the sad little child dimmed and faded

almost forgotten

but the friend has left her now

as she knew he would

as all the others did

though it took so many years

she and that special friend

seldom meet anymore

almost never...

the lonely little girl with

the ponytail and the saddle shoes

thinly disguised

behind graying hair and spectacles

reaches out a leathery hand

and touches empty air