Tan Purse

I have seen old men walking thru malls
carrying their wives pocketbooks.
Thick old hands clutching small tan purses
with gold claps that click when closed.
The old men fall asleep with their
mouths open in those resting area places
provided for this purpose,
only to be wakened for more money
from the purse or to move on.
Neither suffers indignity, she is not embarrassed by his nap
nor him by her purse.
both have found that loves means carrying small burdens,
some as light as as small tan purse.