An Aged Woman

The past has come apart

events are vagueing

the future is inexploitable

the present         pain.

Not even pain has that precision

with which it struck in youth-time

More like moth

eroding internal organs

hanging or falling down

in a spoiled closet

Does your mirror Bedevil you

or is the impossible

possible to senility

enabling the erstwhile agile

narrow silhouette of self

to hold in huge reserve

this excessive incognito

of a Bulbous stranger

only to be exorcised by death

Dilation has entirely eliminated

your long reality.

                       Mina Loy

                       July 12th

                           1984