1.
Hey there ditch lily
You sure do blaze so brightly-
and so fleetingly.

2.
The roller derby ladies were loud,
and drew curious glances
jostling for coffee in the hotel lobby. 
Muscled thighs and high ponys,  
they were not young and wore no makeup-
but had thick numbers scrawled on their arms.
One had a wild gray streak in her hair
and a direct gaze: they had won.

3.
Years ago I heard the phrase:
“You are old enough,
and ugly enough now
to do what you want.”
I thought it was so unkind.
Now I  find it to be  freeing-
no longer worrying
about the surface of things,
and getting to the heart of living.