Competition

by Cheryl Merrick

The young women glance around
     comparing themselves to each other,
     ranking their competition,
     with a much practiced eye for details.
Constantly anxious of their appearance
     they worry through their days,
     vying for the attention
of the young men.

As the days became years;
     many, many years,
In the security of an eternal relationship,
     her anxiousness mellowed
     into a comfortableness with herself.
Though sometimes,
     glancing at her matronly figure,
     she wistfully remembers
     those days of competition.