Wearing my age like a heavy coat
I saw myself old, head threadbare
mumbling through fuzz in my throat

I saw past forms and faces float
through my dreams, slumped in a chair
wearing my age like a heavy coat

I saw the old front I had to bloat
put on with a well-worn flair
hearing my fret through fuzz in the throat

I saw myself there at the table d’hote
still trying to drink a vin-ordinaire
wearing my age like a heavy coat

I saw myself squint in a dusty mirror and note
loose stitches, the lack of dare
heard my mutter through fuzz in the throat

I saw too much . . . so I reached for the pot-
able: curious wine, the fare for affaires
de coeur      No!––to the heavy coat
and mumbling through fuzz in the throat

Jacquelyn Shah (M.A., M.F.A., Ph.D.–English literature, creative writing) has received grants from the Houston Arts Alliance and work has appeared in journals and anthologies. A poetry chapbook, small fry, and full-length poetry book, What to Do with Red were published (2017, 2018). She’s a recent winner of Literal Latté’s Food Verse contest.