Rough Terrain

Rough Terrain

I once had perfect legs

no scars, no dimples

smooth and uniform

sun-kissed, sinuous, bronzed

time is unforgiving

a fall creates a hole

mini crater on the shin

mosquito bites leave marks

extra rounds, a moon-like

landing of highlands and valleys

rough terrain

dry skin makes scales

then come the veins

vessels of blood

red spiderweb

minuscule at first

windy and jagged

then floods the land

no longer soft or supple

battle scars of decades

turbulent phases

rough terrain

03/29/2025, rev. 05/26/2025, Mónica Fernandes