Alicia Ostriker

1937–

Wrinkly Lady Dancer

Going to be an old wrinkly lady

Going to be one of those frail rag people

Going to have withered hands and be

Puzzled to tears crossing the street

Hobble cautiously onto buses

Like a withery fruit

And quite silently sitting in this lurching bus

The avenues coming by

Some other passengers gaze at me

Clutching my cane and my newspaper

Seemingly protectively, but I will really be thinking about

The afternoon I danced naked with you

The afternoon I danced naked with you

The afternoon! I danced! Naked with you!