Clementines

Clementines

Leah-Kate White

Today I spoke to an old friend
whose hair was full of gray
She served me tea and clementines
on blankets in the sun
“How is your life?”
She asked, handing me the knife
I straightened out the wrinkled cloth
Upon the fallen leaves
“I don’t know where to go”
I said, spreading on some cream
She smiled gently
squeezed my hand
and told me all I had was time

I dearly loved this head of gray,
whose life had shown me grace
In spite of all the passing years
her beauty stayed the same
The sunlight dappled on her cheeks
her wrinkles filled with luster
her time was coming to a close
but Lou didn’t remember

She told me stories of her youth
her hands stretched out behind her
Her denim streaked with dirt and paint
telling me people were like clementines
the wrinkles mark the ripening
and she was all but ready

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Leah-Kate White
Poet & Preschool Teacher

Leah-Kate lives just outside Nashville, Tennessee on the five acres of land she was raised on. She is honored to be the bride of her fiancé, Corey. You can follow her on Instagram. This is her first published poem.

Photography by Monika Grabkowska