Opportunity

Life leaves scratches her fear of limitations in an unwieldy gait uncertain in her body self wisdom that wounds knowing missed chances what to value, what to preserve? her edifice cracked by misfortune can be restored and every fragment isn't a puzzle at age sixty, a bootleg feel for indulgence rises flowered dress to fuel her traction as shoebox isolation fades new force of will to seize joy like a ring toss hoop to drop the faithful security of mask a jump off fences she follows the river's path to a seniors' dance, skirting forlorn alleyways, to a hall decorated welcome, like the wave of circus flags as melodies rising, loosen barricaded thoughts to the beauty of aged embracing in a slow dance that doesn't feel one sided movement that sways in touch a dash of spice movement that blooms the space around her Poem revised July 27, 2022