A Short Tutorial on Aging

One learns, a pleasure, also a tragedy.
One begins to anticipate and regret,
To do amazing things, and, soon
Enough, sees what can't be done,
A list which lengthens year by year,
Until all that one ever did, and all
One ever hoped to do, is on it. Is it
Then one dies? Seemingly not, I tell
Myself, alone inside a plastic booth,
A greasy burger in my hands, and
Fries close by, and elemental joy
Of eating in my mind. So long ago,
I learned to drive, and driving thrilled
Me. Now, I can't recall my trip from
Home to here, and, long ago, I thought
I'd be a famous poet. I am not. The
Words are written on the list, and I
Might once have worn the suits I
Owned into a better job, and gotten
Rich, but I did not, and can't. I've
Shrunken from amazing things, but,
In this booth, amid the quiet bustle of an
Afternoon, chewing brings me
Happiness, something I have learned.



Poetry by Lawrence Beck The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 24 times
Written on 2011-07-03 at 13:51

dott Save as a bookmark (requires login)
dott Write a comment (requires login)
dott Send as email (requires login)
dott Print text