Ruminations of a Sequined Relic: a new poem by Molly Parkin

I LOST MY LOOKS AT 82
AND TURNED INTO A CRONE
REFLECTED IN MY MIRROR
WAS A FACE I'D NEVER KNOWN

I SHAVED MY HEAD AT 82
SOWING THERE BRIGHT SILVER HAIR
I DUMPED MASCARA, LIPSTICK-PAINT
THE END RESULT WAS QUAINT RESTRAINT

HARSH ARTIFICE, MASKED-GLAMOUR GONE
REPLACED BY SMILING EYES THAT SHONE
WITH KIND CONCERN, AND NOW PRONOUNCE
 A FRIENDLY, GENEROUS COUNTENANCE

I'D NEVER REALISED BEFORE
THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT TREATS IN STORE
LIFE BRINGS US GIFTS, THE SPIRIT LIFTS
US HIGH ABOVE WHAT WE'VE ONCE BEEN
WHILST OFFERING A SWEETER DREAM

molly parkin 2014