SHALIMAR RISING
Stooped and shabbby she shuffles,
A widowed pensioner,
Buried knee, slipped disk,
Hand in hand with his walking stick,
Trundling food exchanged for coupons.
A bargain hunter.
A lovelorn cat companion.
By day she is Invisible.
But when darkness descends
She sheds her faded nightgown for silks and satins
Dripped in delight.
Salsa-hipped she shimmies,
Entices,
Temptress-eyed and red lipped,
A thrill-seeker,
A love thief.
By night she is still
Shalimar.