things of old age

her belly has wrinkles
she worries I notice that 
she has something like a ditch
across her belly
she comments
about that labour’s scar and
she prefers if I don’t touch it
when at night
I get near to her
but to me she is beautiful and
my heart doesn’t stop beating
my hands don’t stop sweating
I don’t stop thinking about her
I don’t stop dreaming about her
my friends say
‘it’s called marriage
that’s normal life
one day it will pass’
 
she has something like a ditch and
her belly has wrinkled 
she has crow's feet and
much wider hips
I tell her she gets more beautiful
day by day
she smiles at me with melancholy
saying ‘you old fool’
I tell her that to me
my belly has grown 
my hair is falling out
I'm shorter
but still with all that
every day I love her more
like my mother and grand mama
she is one of the most
beautiful women I know
at night
she cuddles up with me in bed
she admits ‘maybe yes, maybe these
are things of old age’