Are We Better Now Than Then (Stand Naked In Front Of A Full Length Mirror) Poem by David Whalen

Are We Better Now Than Then (Stand Naked In Front Of A Full Length Mirror)

Rating: 4.5


Better Now Than Then?
(stand naked in front of a full length mirror and try not to giggle or gag)

We were then:
Small wiry bipeds on dry plains of Serengeti
Stringy, tight muscles, strong hands, with long slender fingers
Low, beetled brow over dark eyes, seeing distant
Long pointed nails, ridged and discolored, tip slender delicate digits

We are now:
Tall upright bipeds, on dry, sere, parking lot at Walmart
Folds of flaccid fat, fallow, loose, hanging over belts
Squeaky-clean, sausage-like, weak, fat fingers
Skin stretched tight over pudgy, pillow-like hands

We were then:
Hardy travelers, to distant mist shrouded mountains
Feet naked, soles hardened, over plains of rock, sand and gravel
Long slender bows, slung over lean shoulders and arrows in hide pouches,
Obsidian knives, tucked in scant leather loincloths

We are now:
Overweight omnivores, driving air conditioned cars across heat-shimmered blacktop
Aching feet shod in spring-soled Nikes, Ipods and ear pods slung cross sallow chests
Cellphones esconced in synthetic leather, hung from belts, supporting extra large Dockers
Weak, myopic eyes, desperately scanning vast uncharted parking lot
In search of the always elusive parking space, nearer the doors

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Shirley Hanley 15 November 2009

Better Now Than Then? (stand naked in front of a full length mirror and try not to giggle or gag) ... impossible! ! ! {: -) Shirley

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David Whalen

David Whalen

Covington Kentucky
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