Forever Waiting (Poetry)

Always at the back
waiting for her turn
never at the front
none showed much concern
few noticed. Less cared

Her mind miles away
on some other plain
a place of her own
thought’s long-winding train
sole means of escape

They labelled her ‘odd’
‘peculiar’ ‘strange’
outside she grew up
inside knew no change
the pattern was set

for life on the edge
observing the game
but not joining in
just waiting the same
as she always had

recording the score
those names known by heart
the loved and the lost
who’d all played their part
then aged and passed on ...