As I've gotten older
the veins in my hands sometimes
thicken when
the air is hot
and dry
and I see the bulging
rivers, balloon tubes
full of hot blood
flexing over my
working,
carpal-
tunnel
hands

And sometimes the veins
on my legs look
bluer
than I recall-
when I'm in a hot
bath and
my knee bobs up
from the water
for a breath,
a whale's head-
blue veins like
crocheted doilies
who decorate my
Europe skin

Age is such a
funny thing- just a way
to tell time
my rosy skin
is a physical
clock
and it's the
beautiful
carriage that
transports my
mind.