Monday, November 2, 2009

Middle-aged and Bountiful

I can see how radiant their skin is,
how smooth the bodies they call fat.
I watch as they wriggle themselves into a pretzel,
without a single moan.

And I, middle-aged and bountiful—
can’t squat at the Crisper anymore, digging for veggies,
without great pains to rise, and sometimes softly falling back
onto the kitchen floor, cats sniffing at me.

I used to be a pretzel, wriggled,
salty and crisp,
but now I sit twisted
and a little doughy.


3 comments:

  1. Gorgeous.

    I better start writing music, if you're going to be this prolific with poetry. Totally relate to the first (!), totally don't relate to the second, but my daughter wants to be a cat, so at least I know what she would be thinking...

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  2. Mary,
    This is beautiful. It's warm and soft and gentle and caressing and comforting--the words, the style, the form, the seemingly free-flow of thought but its all melting. Love it!
    amy

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  3. Mary (I somehow deleted my first comment) but this is LOVELY and beautiful and melting and warm and soft and caressing and a comfort to read. Beautiful!
    amy

    ReplyDelete