When the snow came and iced the roads
like that kid in church
when his mama’s eyes’ froze him
mid whisper from the choir loft,
We had school on the computer.
“Mr. Crady is nice for real, but he ugly
Like that old person kind of ugly”
Her mic wasn’t muted.
“Friend, I’m going to mute your mic, ok?”
Click
I couldn’t even be mad because I
know she’s right.
Scraggly beard.
Shades of all colors.
White hairs sprout like wild garlic
across my chin and sideburns.
The bags under my eyes speak
for themselves.
Dark circles like a pencil
smudged on paper.
Me and my dumb old hound dog
looking more alike each day–
Gravity wages war on my cheeks, gut,
And jowls.
So yeah, it’s ok.
I’ve given my best years to you kids–
I’ll take nice even if I can’t be pretty.
