Loneliness

Too young to understand
     but not too young to feel
       left alone in the dark.
           short hair
           small face, her eyes don't match
  a girl in a boys-only world.

Old enough to balance
   the pot on her beautiful round head
         fetch water
         sweep
         cook
         wash the clothes in a pool of dirty rainwater
all the others go to school

Married to a man
   who doesn't see her
                       hear her
                       love her
                       want her
   water, cook, sweep, wash, repeat
surrounded by women living in their loneliness

Old, weary, bent
    wisdom fading
      no one comes anymore
  where are they?
     dying
       alone
         hungry
           tired
             spirit lost
alone.