Something in Her Eyes

Perhaps she was exhausted in a good way,
grateful for the once-familiar chaos of family,
the slamming of screen doors, clanking of dishes,
 
continuous squeak of the refrigerator door, 
boisterous voices around the table.
Perhaps she was determined to catch her breath 
 
before creating the list of to-dos necessary 
to close the cabin for the season.  
Perhaps she felt the evening’s breeze 
 
drawing her to the bench tucked 
among the familiar firs edging 
the lake outside the cabin. 
 
No one knows for sure.
 
What is told is that a woman,
her auburn-streaked hair pulled in a bun,
face well-maintained so as
 
to hide her true age,
felt the presence of something 
unfamiliar behind her. 
 
Turning, she stared into 
the eyes of a mountain lion
who returned her steadfast gaze 
 
before trotting back to the forest,
leaving her to savor her glass of wine
without further interruption.