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