When I looked up from my task of the moment,
I saw a woman sitting here,
Relaxed, aged, rounded shoulders,
Kind, caring, worn.

A wears her heart on the sleeve kinda gal,
She sat there with a few shining silver hairs showing at the top of her twisted locks,
Her face was so inviting and warm,
I saw the squishy tummy flopping out as she relaxed,
Knowing it had carried four babies into the world,
And she was grateful.

She was rough round the edges,
Down to earth,
Dirty feet from adventure.

She’s had personal wars, it shows,
That her kind smile and starting wrinkles easily overthrows,
She carries the heavy burden well,
No stranger would know.

And as she looked,
For the first time,
There was no judgement.

This is empathy for herself.