Deep Down, in the Lake

Once upon a time,

A woman won a lottery.

But she did not keep

The tens of thousands of dollars.

Where did they go, then? 

It couldn’t have disappeared,

Couldn’t have been thrown down,

Couldn’t have been thrust,

Every single dollar,

Into the lake.

She loved a young man once,

One that loved her back.

They loved each other,

Stuck flowers in each other’s hair

Joked like little children

Ran around, laughing

Went on walks until the sun set

Wore matching clothes

Made light of every little thing, just for each other

They grew old together, 

With wizened faces

Crinkled eyes

And deep smile lines

On one cold night, 

The man noticed she was shivering,

So he put his blanket on her,

Even though he was cold too.

He soon caught a cold,

And his health was ailing.

One day

They were walking

To the grocery store

And the old man tripped 

On a stone,

On the bridge over a lake

The old woman tried to help him

But she was too frail,

And he was too heavy.

He was lost,

Straight before her eyes

And she couldn’t believe it.

She had a heart attack,

And was sent to the hospital.

When she was healed, 

She mourned for her husband

And spent days at home,

Doing nothing,

Downcast,

Sullen,

Depressed.

The old woman 

Downed cups of wine,

Started to gamble,

And lost game after game

Until she won the lottery.

But she did not keep the money,

She rushed to the bridge, 

And threw the money in the lake

So that her husband could spend it

And be well fed.

She knew 

That when she died,

She would be placed into the lake, alongside her husband

Where they could spend their days together,

With happiness

And fortune.