The Face

The position of her face

taking in the gray light

of december:  all color

leached to monochrome and

the angle of bone and landscape

sharper for it.  A palpable

impression of intensity, eyes

piercing and clear, with deep

darkened creases ceases at the

corners from years of staring

at the sun.  Tousled white-blond

hair, skin tanned and tough:  a

face that had known pain, found

it irrelevant, and pushed on.