Seaside

And she shook off her little hand
Then ran up to the boardwalk rail
To gaze at passing sailboats with
Their gold-ringed masts, their white topsail.

And asked you questions, played pretend
In pleasant midday overcast
To seem so agelessly a girl—
Too young to even have a past.

But that was twenty years ago
And you’re still old and she’s still young,
Now walking with you, looming tall,
With tattoos and a pierced tongue.

You never married, she’s divorced,
You have no children, she has three,
The years been rough, you’re looking worse,
While she seems joyous and carefree.

You take the footpath holding hands
But struggle just to keep her pace.
She thought you superhuman once
So look the part, and don’t lose face.

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