60 Years and Some Days

60 years and some days alive

I stepped out of the bath this afternoon

and caught myself

full length in the mirror

water salt dirt bark

wounds and scars

walking running falling climbing falling trying failing

again again again, always again

pastry tours and good wine

old scotch, long nights

held in folds and curves

laughter and tears

drama hysteria panic

love, so much love

loss, far less than my fair share

but felt like knives cutting anyway

cut sawed drilled pierced

stretched

bruised broken scraped healed

too much sunshine

blisters and peeling skin

freckles and now splotches

strange new patterns of color on pale white skin

all etched and carved and drawn

in exquisite detail

over this body

and on this soul

60 years and some days alive