Beads (haiku)

Multicoloured beads

of every shape and size

A necklace is born

The Basket

An old lady stood with a basket of flowers

I had no doubt she had been there for hours

Her clothes were worn and her shoes had holes

Her face was wrinkled, scattered with moles

As I hurried past, I was busy you know,

I heard a voice come soft and low

Why such hurry, come smell my roses

No others like it make happy noses

I couldn't stop too much to do

Bills to pay and shopping too

I didn't stop, I didn't smell

happy noses?  what the hell?

But all day long I thought of the flowers

That I didn't smell and it seemed like hours

before I could pass her way again

I'd stop and I would smell them then

But she was gone and what was left

was a ragged basket now bereft

wilted leaves and faded scent

the chance for joy had come and went.