No Shelf Life

I fill out the form
quickly until
I come to the boxes
next to age
60+ the last category

I mark the box
but wonder
is this some reminder
that I have an expiration
date stamped on me

like shelf life of peas
Get rid of it
No longer useful
Distasteful
Repulsive

I look back at the form
draw a box, check it
label it with my age
I always wanted to learn
the Tango—Now I will.









Debbie Theiss (Lee’s Summit, MO) grew up in in the Midwest and finds inspiration for her poetry in the unfolding art of daily life and nature. She has poems published in I-70 Review, Skinny Journal, Kansas Time and Place, Interpretations IV & V.