When she was pretty and lissome, and spring followed her everywhere,
when she was carefree and life was fun, when she smiled at everyone,
when her hair was thick and lustrous, when her skin glowed unblemished…
but that was, when she was young.
Those days are now gone.
Her bones now squeak a little more each day, and she wakes up with a new wrinkle every morning.
Her hair has turned gray, they are grayer than the smog that hangs low outside her apartment window.
Her nose gets bigger, her ear lobes dip lower, and her lips are now thinner than the heels that she wore…
when she was young.
Those days are now gone.
Her breasts that were once her pride, now sit upon her stomach, hidden under her loose floral robes of silk.
The dull, dead strands of her hair, are dyed a color they never were; ashamed of being seen, they seek shelter behind her tiara.
Her chins that roll upon one another, find refuge behind her many necklaces; her swollen feet are now thicker than the waist she had…
when she was young.
But those days are now gone.
Title: “She” (Pen and Ink Drawing – Size: 5″ x 8″ Approximately.)
You must’ve noticed that I’m terrible at getting words to rhyme. I apologize for it…but if I don’t try, I’ll never get there.
About this caricature:
The caricature was inspired by a lady I saw at the mall. She must’ve been very pretty once, but she was clearly not able to cope with aging. She was unhappy, perpetually complaining, even bitter, but she was laden with jewelry. I’m not a gemology expert, but I could see four solitaires, a couple of rubies, one emerald, and a lot of dazzle around her neck. The tiara, I confess, is my addition.
Shafali's Caricatures, Portraits, and Cartoons 