Exchange And Mart Poem by Charlotte Peters Rock

His high profile made The Qualities.
On one arm a graceful woman
Tucked in close another photograph
woman doppleganger - and his first

If he admired the looks so much why
trade the one in for the other?
Was it ageing lines which caused the change
-boredom with her awkward company?

Perhaps the first one with passing time
forgot to laud his qualities -
as children came to keep her busy -
settled on acceptance of her man

Perhaps her life had moved her onward
from being shadow to his sun?
Their hair is cut in similar style
Barbie-ish to lead a man to touch

Does he really feel he's found a change
a sharpened wit and happy thought
whose eternal self will detain him
fascinate to the end of living?

Or a re-work of the sagging years
brand new model for his fifties
unprovoking sex to warm his bed
greet his guests keep his kudos polished?

PS Do I recall a different mate
leaning seductive on his arm -
similar to his other women -
just a year or two ago?