always allowed people
to get into the bus before her
gave up her seat for pregnant
women or the infirm
happy to help
answered questions for directions
assisted blind people across the road
picked up and returned items dropped from bags
to distracted shoppers
looked after neighbours' mail, pets and gardens
whilst they were on holiday
always provided tea and sandwiches for tradesmen
bundled up clothes and things for charity
knitted quilt patch for the needy
then the day arrived in a flash
maisie was old herself
often missed the bus
because everyone shoved in front of her
stood all the way clutching her walking sitck
when she dropped her purse
no one helped to pick up the contents
grumbling
as they stepped over her to get out
she had to go to hospital for a hip replacement
the neighbours were too busy
to collect her mail or look after her old dog
first time she had asked for a favour in forty years
her remaining relative had rover euthanased
because he would be too much for her to manage
making a diary entry to check funeral expenses
a quick calculation of what her property was worth
eyeing off her few bits and pieces before driving rover
to his last visit to the vet
maisie returned home
three months later she was found dead in her cottage
the neighbours consoled each other as the police
put the the tiny body bag into the car
if only they had known
if only she had reached out and asked for help they said
'such a dear old lady'
Midweek Motif Poets United
Ouch! This saga is powerful. I fear I have known her and not seen her. Moving piece.
ReplyDeleteJust like the fate of a Saint..heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteOh my, that was a tearful moment for me. Oh the injustice but you know what? She's in heaven right now for God rewards goodness with eternal paradise. That's the happy ending to it all. thanks for this Rall. Happy All Saints Day!
ReplyDeleteBlessed All Saints Day to you too!
DeleteThe sainted ones often go unnoticed and unsung in their death.
ReplyDeleteA moving and heartbreaking tale. I wish she had a happier ending but as notable saints go her prize surely awaits in heaven
ReplyDeleteThanks for todays sweet write Rall
Muchđź’–love
The quote and the poem make us ponder the ironies of life.Should we then abandon doing good deeds or just do the deeds without expectations?
ReplyDeleteI would like to think this is the exception rather than the rule. I've always liked the quote of Edwin Markham "There is a destiny that makes us brothers; no one goes his way alone; what we send into the lives of others, comes back into our own".
ReplyDeleteEccentric old ladies who care for others clearly have no place in our world. What a sad reflection on how the human race has become less humane.
ReplyDeleteThis is sadly the way that 'community' has fallen. Oh for the days when people cared! This is a powerful write Rallentanda
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, this is just exactly it. A powerful statement over how self-absorbed some humans can be. Euthanising the dog was so harsh. A friend of mine in his last wishes BEGGED relatives to not put his cat in the pound. But they did.
ReplyDeleteSometimes people can't see beyond their on nose so self-obsorbed as Sherry said. It is a shame. One day they to will be old, I am sure they will hope for more consideration. A powwerful write Rall!!
ReplyDeleteMaise belongs to a dying breed, I'm afraid, Rall. You and I and many of our generation would still do what Maise did without thought, but times are a-chaning and the younger people just don't care...
ReplyDeleteSad poem :-(