her warm, dark eyes
watched perceptively,
beneath arched brow.
framed by her thick
brunette mane, cut short
as was her retirement.
she wore brimmed hats
for shade so her hair color
wouldn’t fade red in sun.
her coiffure was her crown,
until news of lung cancer
and chemo styled dread.
she fell ill with infection
that took her too quickly,
before chemo could begin.
at least, she was spared
losing her beautiful hair;
i wish i had one lock of it.
a poem in my pocket 
Jan 27, 2015 @ 23:51:13
This was so touching. And the wish for having a lock of hair was simple beautiful. You have captured the emotions beautifully.
Jan 27, 2015 @ 23:50:38
This is so sad., the small bliss of keeping the mane compared to leaving too early. A retirement cut short.
Jan 27, 2015 @ 22:45:42
my gramma died of lung cancer and she wasted away slowly – so probably that was merciful indeed that she didn’t have to go through that dark valley…
Jan 27, 2015 @ 22:01:29
Cancer is the demon that lives under all our beds. It took my mother at 39 in ’66.
Never a good time to lose your Mom, but I was in boot camp preparing to go to
Viet Nam when it all came down; but somehow you tame & convert pain & heartbreak into manageable dominions, & stride through the future.
Jan 27, 2015 @ 21:44:02
Oh, Lynn–so touching. The line that got me “I wish I had a lock…” Life is so fragile. This is a tender, thoughtful poem.
Jan 27, 2015 @ 21:02:30
“I wish I had one lock of it”…so much said in those last few words. A powerful poem.
Jan 27, 2015 @ 20:20:22
so sad… wishing for that tress is heartbreaking…. you’re right, tho… at least she was spared the pain of losing the hair she loved so much… powerful write
Jan 27, 2015 @ 17:44:10
This is very poignant. Sad to lose a mother so very soon… And I understand the longing for just one lock of her hair….something tangible to remember her by.
Jan 27, 2015 @ 17:16:59
How sad, I can’t imagine losing one’s mother too soon ~ You have captured her with kindness and love ~ To save that lock of hair, that would have been precious ~
Jan 27, 2015 @ 17:14:53
mmm…the wishing for that tangible memory got me there in the end…i guess if cancer has to take you, at least it seemed merciful in taking them quickly…cancer has touched several in my fam….