That Woman

It's that woman again,
the one I see most days on my way to work,
as I turn the corner by the old Trevor Butchers shop,
the one that takes me to the back alley & along side the bus depot to catch the number 5,
I see her crouched by the low wall that surrounds the water tanks serving the Fire Station
she never looks at me.

Today is different, I do my usual walk
I get to where the woman sits but instead there is just emptiness
for a moment I stop and stare at "her" place, and wonder
as I cast in to a day dream of "whats" and "wheres" I am suddenly reminded that I didn't even know the "who"
who is that woman.

I carry on my journey to the bus, and to work
and that is where I discovered the "why", why she was not there
I arrive in the office to find the television on, the news is blearing out and my colleagues are all watching
i cannot see a thing past the overly eager mailroom man trying to reach his coffee
but i get the strangest feeling like something bad has happened.
That is when i see it.

The TV now visible and there the face of a woman
that woman, MY woman, the one who was no longer there
i listen intently, waiting, but the man that reads the news could not clarify
for he is seeking information of this poor lost soul, the police cannot identify her
who is this woman.

A day goes by and i take the same route, this time stopping to lay flowers
i get a chill that runs the length of my spine
the hairs standing up on the back of my neck, i turn quickly
i feel eyes upon me but there is no one there, but i know....
its that woman.

i cannot sleep, my mind is racing
who is this woman? why was she there?
If i had just gone to her, asked her her name
maybe she would still be here and she would be alright
why that woman?

time passes, you hear less of her in the news
no one seems to know her, want her, love her
no one is missing her
but i am.

i have changed my route to work, i now walk along Swanks Avenue
i think of her everyday, and hope one day i will find her in heaven
but this time i shall not walk by
i will know who this woman is.