AGE BEFORE WISDOM

Oh, to be science-fiction young.

What is this thing?
- of beauty?
- a joy, no more?

Brittle, wooden death then -
a mannequin’s stare.
The ageless taunting slits
rolled back.

Cold smiling pupils
devouring reality
for the sake of a handbag,
stretched and patent -

taunt-skinny spokes-model
for the consumer age,
or dough in a timeless strudel.