a curious visit
she showed up unannounced
like a mongrel looking for a free lunch
it had been so long I didn’t recognize her
until she started speaking
she had been beaten so many times
her eyes were as uncertain as the sea
she spoke softly but with quick hands
small and unbelievably smooth
curious to discover what brought her here
I would eventually become disappointed
although she wasn’t exactly welcome
she was family
and there was nothing I could do
august two thousand seventeen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
jdubqca 
I just lost a friend to murder. This poem might be her.
oh my – I’m very sorry to learn of this, Lara. my heartfelt condolences.
This touches me so deeply, John. There are several scenarios I can imagine fitting here. But I ultimately think she’s an abused child at school, and the speaker is a cafeteria worker. That doesn’t really fit with the last stanza. But I like that story version.
It could also be a reunion or a foster care situation.
Oh, I’ve got it. What if the speaker is her son, and because of her lifestyle, he was taken away. So she keeps trying to see him, be part of his life, but he’s not exactly warm and loving. He’s had enough — probably sick of seeing her let men beat her up.
I love this piece.
thank you for commenting on this piece your interpretations are spectacular
I have just read what the others have written. i thought it was about a feral cat, as i have just lost mine and if he returned i would feel just like that.
I can see that, Denise.
I really love this line:
“she spoke softly but with quick hands”