The Forgotten

MAGPIE 94

Lunch, George Tooker, 1964, Columbus Museum of Art

Photo courtesy Tess Kinkaid, Magpie Tales

Deep concentration

On the victuals provided

By people who care

And those willing to give

Of their time

No conversations

Or smiles between diners

Just emptiness etched

On deeply lined faces

That have lived

No interaction

Or pleasantries exchanged

In an attempt 

To make a friend

Or two here 

Underlying suspicion

That others will see

Ice cold fear  

In the blank stares

 Of the forgotten

Barbara M Lake ©

Trinidad, WI

December 2011