The tiles of the kitchen floor
reach up to her with offers of a hopscotch game

"Not today" she whispers
And rushes on to prepare the morning fare

"Come dance with us" coax the sunflowers
lining the path to the mailbox

"Not today" she whispers
as she returns with three credit card offers and a Sears Roebuck

"Imagine with us!" chatters the cloud parade
as it marches across the sky

"Not today" she whispers
separating whites from darks
scrubbing stains from her husband's t-shirts

"Chase us!" shout the waves
giggling along the shore

"Not today" she whispers
slowly packing squeaky toys and tennis balls into a worn cardboard box

"Sing with me," croons the rain
strumming upon her porch roof

"Not today" she whispers
taking the two bowls from their spot of 15 years
and placing them in the sink

"Twirl with us!" gasp the leaves
jumping from the trees

"Not today" she whispers
as she removes the cover from the cedar bed
and puts it in the wash for the very last time

"Remember me" say the kind brown eyes and wagging tail
watching her from a photograph on the mantle

"Every day" she whispers
and finally she stops...
and sits...
and weeps...

Ardath Piston