i'll never be an old woman

she

said, i'll never be an old woman.

she said this

at 43,

the age in which she died.

she said

i'll never have children.

i'll never

get married

again.

i'll never see you when

you're old

and grey. i'll be gone by

then.

i shook my head and smiled.

told

her to stop

saying such things.

she laughed and said,

believe me. it's true,

but for now, let's make love

and hold me

for awhile.