Anatomy of a wave

She walks

two sets of dogs

each morning,

rarely smiles

or says a word

in passing,

waves

from across

the pond.

You wonder

how many emotional

and physical acts of misogyny

she has endured

to bring her

to this point

and resolve

to respect

her downcast eyes

and silence in passing

and wave back

from across the pond.

4-3-23