"I Didn't take the time to say Hello"

I saw her in the street,

Thought I recognised her face

The sun was shining brightly,

I was happy in this place.

She walked so slowly past me

I pondered for a while

But didn't think to stop and speak

or offer her a smile.

I  didn't take the time to say Hello.

I hesitated once again

Then continued on my way

Thoughts kept on returning

In a most disturbing way.

Where exactly had I seen her

Some recognition grew

And yet I couldn't stop at all

For someone that I knew.

I turned a corner rapidly

And went to cross the street,

A chilly breeze invaded

The sun had gone to sleep.

And then I saw her once again

She must have doubled back

Her head was bowed, she shuffled on,

By now the sky was black.

A chill went through right to my soul

I followed in a daze,

The rain began to tumble down

Through a peculiar haze.

I saw the truck before she did

It skidded to and fro,

Being younger I could leap right back

But she didn't seem to know.

Concrete settled deep within

My breathing stopped I'm sure,

In slowest motion, made my way

to her side once more.

And then a total recall

How I knew her face

We'd worked together years before

Another time and place.

 She smiled at me, I took her hand

And then she spoke my name

Unrelenting tears flowed

I fought to understand.

In ragged clothes with face so worn,

she pleaded with her eyes,

To come a little closer,

She had a small surprise.

I worried it was all too much

Her injuries were bad,

She asked then that I stay there,

To take the gift she had.

She fumbled somewhere on her breast

To find the locket there,

Inside that little locket

A curl of baby hair.

"You didn't know" she whispered.

"Why I left with no goodbye,

I feltso bad in doing that,

I was alone and very shy”.

She closed her eyes and seemed to fade

I began again to weep

Had I taken time to say hello

She'd face no final sleep.

Alice didn't pass away

To the hospital she went

And every day with flowers

Beside her bed I spent.

She told me all about her son

And how alone she'd been

An unwed mother in those days

Was deemed to be obscene.

There is a growing friendship now,

No more tales of woe,

And I have learned to take the time

to stop - and say "Hello",

© Anne N. Byam

                       MAN OF THE LAND

My son would say he has a crinkly face,

And look somewhat alarmed at his appearance

Because this man lives in another place,

Which tests his every strength, his whole endurance.

Man of the country, bowed from too much work,

To make  a living and provide this nation,

With primary produce - he will never shirk

his duties; toiling with first hand creation.

The midday sun beats down on man and creatures,

He helping them, they helping him, to live,

A calf he finds born slightly out of season,

Needs special care that only he can give.

The fencing, dams and paddocks need attending,

A never ending list of things to do,

He hires some help when baling hay in summer,

The same men come each year, good men and true.

Shimmering sunset sees him leaning quietly,

Against a fence-post, some little way from home,

His horse with eyes half closed in contemplation,

of  being unsaddled and allowed to roam.

This farmer, with favourite horse beside him,

his dogs around him panting in the heat.

With this sunset making way for twilight,

Evening air aromas, as ever, sweet.

Fresh mown hay, majestic gums and cattle,

all blend this fragrant perfume on the air,

He breathes in deeply, savouring the moment,

and thanks his God, for land and that he’s there.

So my son, don’t be alarmed at seeing,

This farmers’  rugged face and worn hard hands,

for he is still the yolk of our existence,

This man who works and loves this precious land.

©  Anne N. Byam

C A T S