.

I got this fine crease
from laughing with my mother,
from my surprise as he bent to one knee,


I got these lines around my lips
from drinking coffee with my husband
and kissing him between sips.


I got these crow's feet near my eyes
from squinting into the Aruban sun
and squeezing back tears as Mrs. Millie died.


I got this crépe skin
from sunbathing in Hawaii
and studying in college...and partying and drinkin'.


If I had a porcelain face,
and instead of my memories
I had in their place


a face without laughter,
without the surprises
and the warm tears after,


a face without joy,
without my wedding day
and love for a boy,


a face without travel,
without pall bearers
crunching through gravel,


a face without knowing,
without wisdom,
and no emotions showing,


well I'd rather have these marks,
the lines, these scars, this crease
than a face without life, a life in the dark.


Draft 1 written by Lacey Schexnayder Pyle | Nov. 21, 2008

Labels: age, art, baton rouge, lacey, vacancy