the retired lady at the texas assisted living facility

Sister Lou Ella Hickman

November 7, 2021

far too simple to say thank you 

like a scrap of paper on the floor 

or a sidewalk flower  

pick up what was dropped 

blow the dandelion into wishes 

a thousand times thank you 

she told me 

then she walked away pushing her cane 

and her coke bottle bottom glasses gliding 

her down the hall 

she the small scrap of paper 

she the dandelion blown into wishes 

Sister Lou Ella has a master’s in theology from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and is a former teacher and librarian. She is a certified spiritual director as well as a poet and writer.  Her poems have appeared in numerous magazines and four anthologies.