DIGNITY

I didn’t want you to know
I was falling down sideways
in slow motion

seated on my bike, stealth
far enough behind you 

I was leaning toward the slope
slanting to the lake, I was ok

until the lady hiker had to
say something, point to me
make you turn around, wide-eyed

just in time to see me
disappear into
a bed of deep dark undergrowth

I almost pulled it off
I could have gotten up alone

I could have, once again
forgotten how very much
I need you to see me

Since Susan Shea retired as a school psychologist, she has been able to write poetry full-time. In the past year, a little over 100 of her poems have been accepted by publications that include MacQueen’s Quinterly,  Across the Margin, Ekstasis, Avalon Literary Review, The Gentian, Feminine Collective,  Triggerfish Critical Review, Litbreak Magazine, Invisible City and others. She was raised in New York City, and now lives in a forest in Pennsylvania.  She has wanted to be a poet since third grade.  Although she is now 71, she feels like the heart of an eight year old is coming alive within her again.