I keep getting older
which I’m not entirely sure is a good idea

as everyone knows that in afterlife you stay
the age at which you died

I keep repeating
in my head I MISSED MY CHANCE

I MISSED MY CHANCE to be this
age or that one forever

to be as I was before this burn line before
this gum bleed before

I knew not to keep getting older
forever

—

Natalie Shapero is the author, mostly recently, of POPULAR LONGING.