Tissue paper thin
there is no dignity in this
reducing
arms that once bulged,
then stretched
corded steel
flashing
woven gristle
wrapped taut
too thin
he has become easily bruised
sandpaper hands
once proof of honesty
slough into trembling gossamer
He expected his knees,
even the hips.
The hands though
capricious
fumbled thirty pieces of eight,
naked treachery
unquieted
a show of force
mocking the effort
still
they would not be,
tiny dancers
each to their own song
each lying to the music
hoping to fool the band
false prophets
jitterbugged crazily
remembered the dance
bowed,
courted agreed finally to tie the knot
The chair struck the white carpet
its perfection marred only by the pendulous shadow
all ten judas
finally silent
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