Revision

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published

She is in the black and white photo.
Her gaze sanguine, she knows no one is watching.
She had the freedom of invisibility long before she knew of
its inevitability in middle age. She is resigned.
She knows the shadows well, from the arm of charismatic men
from being the hip for her children.
Her gaze sanguine, she knows no one is looking.
Training her eyes on a distant spot to avoid
eye contact as she walks down the street.
She knows invisibility well, from the arm of charismatic men
from being the hip for her children.
The sign says "We buy stone walls." She would like to sell you hers.
Training her eyes on a distant spot to avoid
attention as she walks down the street.
The sign says "We buy stone walls." She would like to give you hers.
Especially the hulking rocks at the bottom
that were put there long ago, before memory.
Take the medium ones as well, that she collected
walking through puberty and early love affairs.
Be careful of these, with knife edges
like shrapnel from bombs, unexpected in middle age.
Hardest to part with, the little rocks, her gleeful ammunition
to keep intruders away, far from her side
of the stone wall. Take the medium ones
as well, that she collected
dodging through puberty and early love affairs.
She has the freedom of invisibility long before she knows
of its power in late middle age. She is pleased.
The hulking rocks at the bottom
were deposited long ago, before memory.
She is the black and white photo.
Her gaze sanguine, confident no one sees her.