I looked old age in the eye,
caressed her many wrinkles and
let a tear slide by
Her frail hand in mine, I asked,
‘Are you ready yet’?
‘I’ve always been’ she replied
‘I’ve lived my days and known my nights
Seen the world and felt it in my bone.
I’ve chased dreams over valleys and
swum rivers to find love.
Oh and I’ve loved and laughed
and shed tears in pain too.
So I have lived and
I am ready.
But you, dear child, are not.
Your clear skin and agile bones have blinded you to life
and her deceptive ways.
You’ve taken for granted every sprightly step
Too drunk in youth, you don’t realise that
This Won’t Last.
Your steps will become slower, your breaths sharper
stabbing at your heart every way
Eyes cloud, ears fail and soon
you will begin to trust yourself a little less each day.
And then, when memory begins to fade,
you will remember that
This wasn’t the case.
But now,
All doors have closed and
there’s no where left to go.’
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