Unparalleled
the aging process
is a quiet thing
like a knife
that runs along the skin
first you don’t even realize
just stings and goes away
you go make plans
on summer days
and all the while
the cut creeps down
the middle
and there’s an ache
that wasn’t there
and you forget
what you were gonna say
the phone rings
so you talk about that
and it’s tomorrow already
your child is grown
that place on the corner closed
the two-lane turned four
so and so just had a baby
you gotta find something to wear
to that thing
when did it get so cold
foot’s cramping
the knee stops running
stuck on a wheel
hair’s losing color
skin’s losing layers
the neck starts dropping
the face has a ripple effect
that spreads all over
the body
you’d rather stay home
and watch it on television
yeah, it hurts
to get old
I’ve watched it
on others
saw it for myself
the slow decay
and what it does
to you
mentally
physically
emotionally
the cut gets torn
wide open
like a broken zipper
on a jacket
you can’t close
when did it get so cold
colder still
TL