"So This Is"

by Jerry Dillon Pratt

old age -

it comes as a surprise

the kid inside the body

is wistful, rebels

against the celebration

of the good movements

of intestine, bowel

the insistence of urine

neck bones, jaw bones

pop, crackle, snap

then sag

into silence

each night I arrange

three pillows

one for the head

a thin one folded

beneath my knees

a sturdy pillow

beside me

supports the left arm

over the head

in the dark

the armpit opens

like a mouth

yawning, then shouts

let me out of here

it must be the heart

silly girl

she wants to be

dancing