It used to be, when I was young,
My body was my friend;
I thought, at least, her loyalty
Would be there to the end.
 
Not so! Each year she slips away
And what she leaves behind
Is challenging, to say the least,
And sometimes blows my mind.
 
My mirror, also not my friend,
Says, “H-mmm, what have we here?”
She’s lost some inches in her spine—
No longer tall, I fear.”
 
And so, to compensate for that,
Long tunics and slim pants
Are called for, and my part in this
Depends upon my stance:
 
“Stand up straight and shoulders back”
Repeats my therapist,
“Get up from your computer,
Lift the weight off of your disc.
 
You sit too long, and that’s not good;
Get up and walk around.”
However, then, I tend to snack,
I lose, both ways, I’ve found.
 
My daughter, being funny, or
At least I thought she was,
Said hanging upside down would help
And loosen things because
 
“It helps you stretch, which by all rights
Should add an inch or two.”
Upside down? I’m doing good
To stand upright, thank you!
 
And so, instead, we shared some wine
And cooked some shrimp and grits
“Let nature take its course,” I said;
“I writes, therefore, I sits.”