The Beauties Abandon You
The abandonment may start with hair.
The color leaves, the strands themselves
flee in squadrons down the drain
or cling to the tines of the comb.
The eyes might well be next, changing
shape, losing focus, requiring lenses or lasers
or other augmentation too gruesome to consider.
The ears will leave you, too, repaying
the sharp abuses of bands at maximum volume
and the banshee screams of racing cars.
Alas, restraint's a talent learned best late.
The skin will stay but you won't see it,
camouflaged by creases, tags, and curious
deposits of renegade fat and pigment.
When muscle tone and joint strength
join the absent attributes, you'll slump
within your favorite chair and wonder
what became of you, once fiercely vertical.
When the last and greatest beauty goes-
the boundless gift to recognize them all-
you won't be there. You abandon you.
The color leaves, the strands themselves
flee in squadrons down the drain
or cling to the tines of the comb.
The eyes might well be next, changing
shape, losing focus, requiring lenses or lasers
or other augmentation too gruesome to consider.
The ears will leave you, too, repaying
the sharp abuses of bands at maximum volume
and the banshee screams of racing cars.
Alas, restraint's a talent learned best late.
The skin will stay but you won't see it,
camouflaged by creases, tags, and curious
deposits of renegade fat and pigment.
When muscle tone and joint strength
join the absent attributes, you'll slump
within your favorite chair and wonder
what became of you, once fiercely vertical.
When the last and greatest beauty goes-
the boundless gift to recognize them all-
you won't be there. You abandon you.
Powerful and merciless. Great work!
The long, slow process.*
Yup. Damn it all.
Sigh. The future isn't what it used to be. Cheer for the "fiercely vertical"!
It's the price of admission. And well worth it. *
"The ears will leave you, too, repaying
the sharp abuses of bands at maximum volume
and the banshee screams of racing cars.
Alas, restraint's a talent learned best late."
Absolutely. Good poem, Gary.
You were born to be old, bitter, and sour.
You're coming into your own, here.
Not a poet, so I can't comment on the technical aspects. But, man, this hit home. Harder than I want to admit. Then you made me.*
Thanks Mia, Con, Steve, Carol, J. Mykell, Sam, Matt, and Gary for the readings and comments. I am grateful for the attention.
Heartbreaking Gary and well wrought. *
that's right. now let's go see "Amour"
I'd like to hear your voice behind this - I mean, it could be read in a tragic or light-hearted way. "The soul is born old and grows young. That is the comedy of life." Great piece.
Neil, thank you. I think some of the most serious people in the world are stand-up comics so I'd probably ere on the side of the light-hearted.
Very amusing, Neil. Ok, not amusing! More like existential for me!! Still, plenty of affirmation in “Alas, restraint's a talent learned best late.“
Merciless is the word. Wow. Strong work, rings true, cuts to the marrow*
Damn it, Gary! You drive this home so powerfully. Good work.*
Thanks for reading and the kind comments, Ed, Jen, and John.
Sad and all true. Fave *.
Thanks, Gloria.
"you'll slump / within your favorite chair and wonder / what became of you, once fiercely vertical."
Love "fiercely vertical"!
Excellent last line too!
This would make a cool villanelle if you're form inclined.
at these wages, i can't work villanelle hard, Bill!
There's something reassuring in the commonality of it all - the shared experience! This is done so well, Gary.
I'm on free verse wages, too... :)
Ha. They do, Gary, they do. Bravo!