He Didn’t Know Her Name

Here’s the story behind the poem.  I arrived home from work one Friday evening, in March 2013, and realized I had only one working headlight.  I decided it could wait until Monday, to get fixed, when I’d have one of the mechanics at my workplace replace it.  On Saturday evening Mom and I were going to Boisdale to a concert.   I woke up on Saturday morning and thought about the headlight and decided since we’d be going through back roads, in the evening/night, that I’d better get it fixed right away.  Even though I see many cars with only one headlight, with my luck I’d be stopped and ticketed and I didn’t need that.  Also, I wanted the best visibility possible, in case of  wildlife jumping out onto the roads, or a possible snow squall appearing during our drive.  Mom asked me to pick up batteries for her, if I had time, even though she didn’t need them for a few weeks when the time changed.  I didn’t want to spend much time in town, so I told her I’d get them on one of my lunch breaks the following week.  I put on a heavy burgundy jacket and proceeded to the car.  I realized it was much too warm for my jacket and went back in and changed to a black vest.  I stopped at my workplace and found one of the mechanics working on a vehicle.  He told me what I needed and off I went to the parts shop and picked up a bulb.  It took him about 5 minutes to pop it in and I was ready to go home.  It was still very early in the day, around 9am, so I decided at the last minute to stop at Walmart to pick up the batteries for Mom.  I parked the car beside an SUV and got out.  Immediately a man in the SUV got out and approached me.  I was a bit leery at first, but when he said he needed help to find his wife, I realized I needed to listen to him.  He was very distraught.  He kept telling me ‘she went that way’ as he pointed towards the opposite end of the mall from where the SUV was parked.  I explained that nothing else was open and she must be in Walmart.  He was adamant she walked away.  I asked him what her name was and he told me, Mildred.  I then asked what she was wearing.  He was thinking and thinking and then reached out and touched my vest and said ‘a coat in this colour’.   I tried to calm him and told him he should get back in the car while I went into Walmart to look for her.  Once he was safely in the vehicle, I went in.  There were possibly a half dozen cars in the parking lot, so I knew there wouldn’t be many people in the store.  I looked and looked but could not find anyone I thought could be his wife.  I picked up the batteries I needed, but I knew I had to look again.  I finally saw an older lady wearing a navy blue jacket.  I thought it might be her.  I asked her if her name was Mildred.  She smiled and said no, it is Jean.  I thanked her and explained that a gentleman was in the parking lot very upset he didn’t know where his wife went.  She instantly grew pale.  She asked was he in an SUV.  I told her yes.  She told me it was her husband and his mind was starting to go.  She left her cart and took off for the exit.  She looked back as she left and yelled ‘thank you!’ as she went out the door.  So many things made this happen.  First I decided to go to town and have my light fixed.  Second, I changed from my burgundy jacket to a black vest.  Perhaps he’d not have remembered the colour, or at least a colour close to what I needed to look for, if I’d not changed.  And third, I decided at the last second to stop for the batteries.  I’ve wondered about this couple so much over the past 7 years.  I’ve wondered who Mildred was.  His Mom?  His old girlfriend?  Former wife?  Daughter?  When I got home that day, I immediately headed to my computer and wrote this poem in about 10 minutes.  BTW names have been altered to protect the couple.

He Didn’t Know Her Name

Can you help me, please? I’ve lost my wife.

I saw her walking, she’s my whole life.

Bring her back, I’ll wait right here.

She’s wearing a black coat, I know she’s there.

Her name is Mildred, I love here so

Why did she leave me? Where did she go?

I strolled the aisles, no one to find

I searched and searched, she must be kind.

I saw a lady, in my view

But she wore a coat of navy blue.

This could be her, I have a task

Is your name Mildred, I have to ask.

No it’s not, her smile so warm

My name is Jean, she did inform.

I said a husband has lost his wife

He’s in the parking lot, she’s his life.

Her face was stricken, I read the fear

“Is he in a red car? I parked so near.”

I said he was, it might be him

She said his mind is growing dim.

She thanked me so and rushed outside.

I felt her pain, I could have cried.

Such a pity, no one to blame

How sad he didn’t know her name.