Two Women

Today,
two women entered
my home and heart-
One was tall, thin
and terribly smart.
On faculty at a
leading university
was a testimonial
to her tenacity.
From my distant youth
and memories fond,
in desperate pink
and spiky blond-
condescending,
slight swaggering step
with bulging dollars,
oh, my heart wept-
at the brittle laugh,
the hardened stare,
fake composure,
with nothing spared;
youth had faded
so had joy,
the view was jaded
all else was ploy,
to climb ladders
and get a high
on feigned successes
and wait to die.

The Other-
was round, warm,
in colorful attire
deep laugh, and
lusty desire-
to improve life,
better comfort, care,
home and hearth
with friends to share;
her kind heart
could encompass more
to strangers- an open door;
comfortable, in her
middle class sensibility,
religious, and moral
with usual responsibility;
a teacher of science
both strict and kind
respected by kids,
a gem to find-
with solid compassion
she lives her life
smiling through her
everyday strife.