The Waiting

Copyright 1994© Linda Syverson Dent

A woman understands
home fires burning
lamps in windows
porchlights.

Her patience forgives
dinners spoiled
sleep interrupted
parties she goes to alone.

There will be other parties
...love is a once-a-lifetime thing.
Food grows stale
but Love keeps.

She has faith in his idealism
when even he doubts it
---she champions his causes
when he himself is silent.

A woman understands
that fear
is only the wail of a siren in the night
and calm
is the sweep of his headlights
across the yard,
the turn of his key in the lock,
the touch of his hand on her pillow
once again.