Nov. 8

Tuesdays I rise early for me, pull on
tennies and my Run to Feed the Hungry
T-shirt, and head over to Marilyn’s in River Park
to work out to the oldies, with the oldies,
of whom I am now one.

Shelley brings her turquoise mini speaker
and through the magic of Bluetooth
and iPhone plays upbeat songs
as she works us out on the lawn,
standing or sitting on folding chairs,
singing along now and then.

After a month of Tuesdays I learn
that she’s a professional jazz singer
and vocal coach, not to mention
a slender, upbeat, you-can-do-it
workout queen.

So when Shelley sings with Annie,
Sweet dreams are made of these,
she matches Ms. Lennox’s key,
as we all swing our hips, stretch
our stiff parts, practice tree pose
under a leafy canopy burnished
scarlet and bronze, soon to loosen
and fall—

we oldies a rainbow of autumn colors,
women of hidden depths, far more
than we appear, as each new song begins,
as we walk in place, hoist hand weights,
raising our voices when the chorus comes,

Shake it up, baby (shake it up, baby)
Twist and shout (twist and shout)
C’mon, c’mon, c’mon, c’mon, baby, now
Come on and work it on out.…