Her frame undented, botoxed lip to chassis
Turned-back mileage, breastworks lifted, sassy
Denture grilled, tuned up in ear
Adjustments to her sagging rear
STP’ed, replacement kneed
In smooth, unwrinkled glory
Undimmed by years, she perseveres; goes on with her life story.
Her journey mirrored, frozen front and backing
Reflecting what she’s faced and what still lacking
Windshield-wiped of memory, road-maps blurred to Used-to-Be
Consigned, aligned with Senior Class, forever running out of gas
Head-light dimmed, re-tired
Still seeking mechanistic grace or plastic surgeon to replace
Her ancient, sluggish throttle:
Some junk-yard doc who might have lucked
Onto a pancreatic duct
Of nineteen-thirties model.
Editor's Note: Tatham's poem, "Spare Parts," was published in "Journey's End," an anthology of Poetry and short stories, June 2010, by Two Friends Publishing.