If You Should Meet Me

If you should meet me on the sidewalk
    in the city,
        would you know me?
Would you recognize my face?
Would my name come to mind for you?
And if you answer yes,
    how would you respond?
Would you pass by,
    pretending not to notice me?
Or nod and speak a quick hello?
Or stop and chat a while?
Or would you smile a smile so big
    and spread your arms all open wide
        and take me inside?
If you should meet me on the sidewalk in the city---
What would you do?

^©1996 Sharon Terry

Vicky
~~~Dedicated to a special lady who
     has Altzheimers Disease.~~~

She smiled her smile,
    she looked at me,
        and opened out her arms.
There was no shade—
    no barrier.
She took me right inside—
    and shone her light upon my face
        and reached right in and touched my heart
            and kissed my cheek a thousand times
                and loved me just for who I am
                        and not for who I'm not.

^©Sharon Terry
1995