aloe

you look so much
younger you tell her
as you put your
arm around her
shoulder and lightly
kiss her on the neck.
aloe, she says.
every day i take
a leaf off of that aloe
plant in my living
room, squeeze
the juice out of it
and rub it all over
my face and body.
nice, you tell her.
it's working,
i don't see
a single wrinkle
anyplace on you,
although my
inspection
is incomplete. will
it work for me,
you ask. she leans
you into the light
and smiles. i think
we're going to need
a bigger plant,
she says.