a wise woman
in Norwich, England once said
"When we are old and careless"
inside my bones clattered
for a moment I was free.

cold bones
luke warm blood
wrists 
of a sparrow
no wings.

my left hip
clicks in a silver joint
unstable yet balanced
titanium tensile strength
decrees to out last me.

something of beauty 
yet not beautiful
an old woman
who knows herself
the one I want to be.

Genie Nakano
originally published in "Storyteller", 2014, self published, also Published in Atlas Poetica a tanka journal, circa 2000. 

I changed the title for my blog because I saw this photo of dew on purple leaves. Purple is my favorite color "Murasaki" means purple in Nihongo.
originally the title was "Holy Bones". I think Murasaki is much better don't you??