Weathering in Parts (Poetry)

"You haven't changed a bit."

She smiles, thinks smooth old liar,
but accepts, nods cheerfully
and fails deliberately to give the polite response -
after all, he's nothing like he was.

She's taken care to hide
the streaks of grey; wound a chiffon scarf
casually around her tortoise neck;
long sleeves disguise the weathering of skin
and she's feeling confident in A-line black.

"You've stayed so slim."

Her smile is fixed now,
fighting back the truth -
the firm rejuvenating cream has sunblock, too -
she shrugs and holds her stomach in,
jokes she's young at heart.