tapping out a lullaby
on the porch roof
the old woman closes her eyes
pansies forgotten, temporarily
soap operas forgotten, temporarily
strawberry jam forgotten, temporarily
her fingers brush the lap quilt
her granddaughter made
tip tip tap tip
a tiny drum bringing
dreams of memories
with missing pieces
that run naked through decades of
confusion and candles
tip tap tip tap
the ginger cat stirs beside her
tip tap
and settles back to sleep