*****

Recorded Reading (1:50): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8h2mayqmop15744p8lcaz/Date-Night.mp3?rlkey=4jcyo4fa5ofjl0q7sdxsdxy75&dl=0

*****

Date Night

As I weather, as I age
Each decade turns another page
Not so urgent any more
Those youthful things I sought before

One trait which rapidly decrease
Is lifelong tendency to please
If not act’ually pander to
The modern male-of-female view

I never did get anywhere
Trying to do up my hair
In any manner didn’t look
As though I somehow had mistook

Extinguisher for setting foam
Garden rake instead of comb
Nor could I give it any loft ~
Event’ually, I shaved it off

In case my scalp made people barf
I covered it up with a scarf
Unless unusually hot —
Then they could just barf a lot!

Felt an urge to redefine
A somewhat less jagged hairline
So etched that line with a tattoo
Ear to temple, ear unto

Forget the hose, forget the heels
By which a younger woman wields
Influences fascinating ~
It’s my ballet flats I bring

Go ahead, prepare to flirt
According to your length of skirt
While to sit most comfortably
Cross-legged I am sweetly free

Made to thusly able be
By skirts which hang below the knee
And give my rear sufficient room
To lower without bringing doom

The seams thereof (oh, dear!) unto,
Offering to all a view
Calculated more to fright ye
Than in any way delight ye

Yes, indeed, this getting old
Is full of pleasures yet untold:
A date night with myself I’ll keep
To read until I fall asleep!

*****

This poet presently lives at a fraction of her nation’s poverty level.

Arts patrons may visit http://www.UgiftABLE.com , using code #72D-31S, or choose to donate by personal check. It will take about two weeks for the poet to be notified of your patronage.

Thank you for supporting quality in the fine arts