Thirteen Going on Sixty-Four for Franziska I never thought I would get to be Thirty never mind sixty-three Or thirteen going on sixty-four Let myself get this old before But one who survived three suicides Would not be the one who decides About how to get out of it so Having gone on this long I go On going about my poetry As what I suppose I should do Like I did as a kid of thirteen So let this be my pilgrimage To get better through this awkward age Let me come out the other side Leaving no doubt about having tried To see between seen and unseen Whatever light I am supposed to However long this might go on Never mind I thought I would be gone By now should not be anyway Now I see how I would like to stay Where you could find me in between The lines when you would know what I mean Reminded of me find me there Though by then I would be everywhere Between us there where we could share Our interdimensionality Someday when you remember me Between the lines at sixty-three or Thirteen going on sixty-four Steven Curtis Lance