Mary J. Mahoney
her elephant ankles shed skin
paint chips flaking off a house
the problem is in the vessels
to and from her heart
do you smoke do you need a dietitian
are your compression socks so tight
that they are hard to get on oh lord
do I see an ulcer forming
the foot pulse swims softly
rowing rowing for now some days
her toes turn blue they are like
van Gogh at night monstrous
aching for dawn
Mary J. Mahoney has published poetry and prose in many literary venues, including The Paris Review, The Kenyon Review, Prairie Schooner, Witness, Colorado Review, DoubleTake and Sentence. She is the 2019 recipient of the Anne C. Barnhill Prize for Creative Nonfiction from Longridge Review. Find her at maryjmahoney.com.
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HOXIE GORGE REVIEW