Lean, hungry
portraits, black
& white Alfred
is Dorothy,

the age-spotted
hands folded
in his lap,
cheek skin sagging
but inviolate,
thinning grays,
single vein
at the temple,
animal pelt
sprouting
from each ear,
nose a beak
& texture of
creminis, iris
color of pupil,
quiet white, wiry
moustache 
above dark lips
is Dorothy,

black hat brim,
on, now off,
round wire frames,
lenses catch a glare,
shadows swallow
eyes, darkness
births a head,
window’s crosspiece
falls dark across
a body, white cuffs
bloom hands
is Dorothy.