Hello Dolly

we called her dolly

in high school,

for two obvious reasons.

all the usual

jokes were made about her,

how she'd never

drown if she fell off a boat,

and that her babies would

never go hungry.

she was very popular

with all the boys,

and was even queen 

of the prom three years

in a row.

i can still see her long blonde

hair and her little hand

waving, as if washing a window

while riding atop

a mum covered float.

she made the most

of her physical attributes,

but then i saw her the other

day in the grocery store.

she was bent over,

leaning on a cane,

and wearing a large

back brace.

i said, hello Dolly, forgetting

her real name,

and she said hello, Joe?

Joe, right?