Double Life of a Middle-aged Woman (#poem)

I walk to the neighborhood shop
And back three floors to the top
On stairs with tossed cigarette butts
Past decorated doors recently shut
Booming bass vibrates the floor
Like post hurricane waves smacking the shore

I drive past new houses built on golf courses
Views of country roads peaceful with horses
Fishes, turtles, sand, and sea
The new scent of home they all tell me
Poetry, wine walks, and music do thrive
Here I’m a neighbor, am seen, and alive

Back to young families, couples, and singles alike
Kids’ toys, their dogs, and even their bikes
Pools, lounges, outdoor grills, and hotties
A twenty-something living in an aging body
Parties, late nights, loud music, and strife
Hides a middle-aged woman living a double life