Remembering those days, when we
went to the Garden Settlement and
sang for the golden oldies.
Red and white checked uniforms for
the girls, blue and maroon for the boys;
no in-between in those days,
no difference at Catholic School.
Smiling faces attached to
weather-beaten, toil soaked bodies;
some almost ready for whatever
comes next, others bored, lonely.
Presents arrived for the residents,
or the older people who seemed to
be forgotten; they beam with joy.
We were too young to appreciate
what we saw, until one day like today,
sitting at the window waiting for
the storm, I remember that day.
I remember their faces, now all dead
no doubt. I feel sadness for their
loneliness, and wonder if I want to
grow older in this country, world.