widow

graying widow comes
for manicures on Mondays
vapors
from twenty dollar lacquers
the cost for dark eyed strangers
English broken
feigning interest in her week
and knead
scented cream
into knotted fingers
aching
yet still bearing
wedding bands
to hold
cold arthritic hands
which haven't held
for the longest
longs
for full embrace
sighs
and settles
for fingertips
painted plastic