Rowena Wiseman: ‘Touch’

Touch 

They’ve been doing this for 22 years on a Tuesday,

since her husband died.

They don’t talk much.

His hands are firm, but careful.

She arches her back, dips her head back further.

She keeps her eyes closed.

He massages his fingertips through her hair

and treats her like she’s someone special.

She likes it when his fingers touch behind her ears.

When he finishes rinsing her hair,

he massages her temples for a minute or two.

Today it makes her sad,

because she remembers a time when a man used to touch her

without having to pay for a blow wave.

She misses her husband,

even though he was a pain in the ass half the time.

Her great grandson held her hand yesterday for almost two minutes.

He’s only three, but he’s a very busy boy.

                                                                          Rowena Wiseman