The poet finds herself now, with age and infirmity, likely out of the running for any further amorous adventures in this lifetime.

The following, then, would have been one of her last compositions as an active member of the “waiting prey”…

*****

Recorded Reading (2:27): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ocsn4tptfd4use33wolnn/Happily-in-Beauty-Go.mp3?rlkey=6mkwnozrdnime1t6fr5p0deyf&dl=0

*****

Happily in Beauty Go

There was indeed a time when I
Would try to make myself as small
As’t took to please another —
But that didn’t work at all

Yes, in some near-forgotten day
Gone, I happy am to say
Long ago and far away
I “feminine” attempted play:

How to present self soothingly
Take on the role peacemaker of
What was it Men would want to see
What to them represented love?

But now I wear what I’ve desired
To wear since I was but a child
By none but mine own soul inspired
Swirling skirts in colors wild

Scarves and bells and bangles so
I happily in beauty go
According my good definition to:
Oft makes people smile to view!

To walk in comfort here to there
I don’t own any underwear
And shave all my head’s stupid hair
Until there isn’t any there

Except some velvet-feeling fuzz
Why do I so? So do because
It feels so marvelously good —
I’ll bet sometimes you wish you could

And then, displeased your hairline by
Determine, like myself, to try
Th’effect of putting a tattoo
Flatt’ring frame the features to

All along the hairline from
Curliques each ear before
Which wavy lines and stars become
Curved the glowing forehead o’er

These days, if you by any chance
Give me less than is my due,
Without even a second glance
I promptly walk away from you

And — you know what? It’s strange to tell
When I was bending backwards to
Get other folk to treat me well
I often couldn’t get them to

But these days I more promptly move
Inaccuracies to refute —
Self examined men now prove
To think I’m awful cute

One even said the other day —
To any woman’s heart a treat,
No matter how much truth she say —
He thought that I was sweet

Those are the only kind of men
I even talk to any more
I was just wasting time back then
On those I tried to please before

*****

Until removal of the stalker/targeter/vandal/arsonist following her allows her to approach any landlord ~ even for a private parking space ~ and to begin once again to create professional connections and to rebuild her life, this poet presently lives homeless and at a fraction of her nation’s poverty level ~ still working seven days a week to contribute to her society, however.

Arts patrons may visit http://www.UgiftABLE.com , using code #72D-31S, or choose to send a personal check to the poet’s ABLE account. It takes about two weeks for the poet to be notified of your patronage.

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