Saturday Poem

Old Skin

staggering towards me
I’ve cast you off

years ago
shrugged you off

left you, put you down at the side of the road
for ravening

by any passing predator
old skin – when your face splits open

in recognition –
you know me now

but not what bar you left me in –
what else would you say but

‘how’re ya, me oul skin’

by Paula Meehan
publisher PIW © 2005