come sit beside me

come here

the old woman says. 

stretching out her arm

like the branch

of a tree.

come over here

and sit

beside me.

she smiles softly

with her blue eyes

wet in the sun like

glassed antiques.

right here, she says, patting

the bench.

i know you.

i know you.

i don't know your name.

or who are you, or where you

live

but i know you,

i know your pain.

she takes my hand and folds

it into hers.

me too, she says. me too.