that old woman

who approached us this morning at kalayaan
and asked for a few coins,
is in my mind.
 
no less than a minute
had she disrupted us
in starting our day's business
but she managed to tell us
about her grandchildren who would also enjoy
possibilities from your twenty-peso bill. 
she walked away with her fortune
with one hand at her lowerback.
 
when i asked you to also give her my twenty-peso bill, 
i was just too afraid to think how it would make any difference.
 
the sun is starting to fade now,
and the old woman is in my mind.