Featured Poem: The Covering

By Lois Batchelor Howard

Palm Springs Branch, California

 

Over its frame

my skin alligators

downward and outward

long unstopping skinny lines

so close to each other

drooping, sagging into air

shaking, moving, wobbling

vying to make a new fabric

much like corduroy

loosely wrapping and wrinkling

the back and front of arms.

Were I to wear a sleeveless dress

and perform playing a violin

listeners could not concentrate

on the beauty of the music

for they would be too immersed

in watching a sack of skin

sashaying forth into space.

I know; when young

I was audience to this

never thinking

I would be changing places

 

I crocodile myself

away from the mirror

wear long sleeves

and with no recourse

laugh. 

 

 

10 comments

  1. Barb Whitmarsh NLAPW says:

    INTERESTINGLY SCAREY.
    THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP FROM GROWING OLD IS
    DYING WHEN YOU’RE YOUNG!
    I’LL TAKE THE CROC LINES.
    NICE JOB.

  2. Sandy Willetts says:

    Lois, you have created another marvelous winner! Your creative poetry writing talent is totally amazing! This poem was such fun to read! You put another smile on my face!

  3. I love the phrase “I crocodile myself.” Unfortunately I also notice these irritating lines appearing on arms and legs. Ah Well, getting old is better than the alternative. I do look forward to Paradise but am not yet ready to die!!!

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