He signaled me, waving a letter in his free hand <br />The other leaned on a cane <br />He spoke no English and the notice was official <br />What did it say? <br /> <br />I looked and saw it was a senator <br />One who was known for many years <br />Yes, he would check to see how soon <br />His case came up with the authorities <br /> <br />Cuba, he must return to Cuba <br />I could see it in his face, for he was very old <br />And could hardly walk <br />Yet he dressed clean and formal <br />And smiled to everyone who walked by <br /> <br />A while later another letter came <br />And again he waved me down in the lobby <br />No, they could not expedite his request <br />He had to wait like everyone else <br /> <br />How could they know he could hardly walk <br />And no one drove him to the store for food <br />And he was brave and he was kind <br />And now, he dozes on the lobby sofa.<br /><br />Liilia Talts Morrison<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/how-could-they-know/
