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Sport 43: 2015

Imagining Ageing. Reimagining Ageing

page 233

Imagining Ageing. Reimagining Ageing

The images are all of tortoises
and cactuses, iguanas and dry leaf.
Indifferently, the body moves along,
indulged though being slow and dull and safe,
indulged for being slow and dull and safe.
The wearing years have let the body keep
a funny but acceptable number of teeth.

It’s different when the body isn’t safe.
Serene and indefatigable herds
of grazers graze and graze and outcompete
anything weaker than a bomb with feet.
The closing years have shut the body up.
Pain comes for the first time and fear returns.
The mouth has changed completely and so have the words.