The bodies of the young reveal so little
starfish shaped
gumby spines
eager chins and willing necks
But over time the flesh gives in
Bears the braids of our mistakes
Bulges in forgotten corners
and seizes like hemp ropes
where it is overworked
The muscles pull on the bones
until they change their shape
Hump, lump, a downturned face
The skin wearily blankets it all
Voicing soft protests in
puckers, stretch marks
or shuts it all out
and goes leather hard
When I was young I could not imagine
that the old had ever been anything but
And now I survey the burdens of my body
and I see how I have
haunted myself
With my indiscretions, laziness, and
misplaced efforts
How I seek now to iron myself out
To become sleek,
like a seal breaking the waters' skin.
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