-- Once Young, Then Old --

John Herlihy

When we were young,

We just wanted to have fun.

We never thought of old age,

Our dreams never lingered on that page.

We never thought about it; it didn’t exist,

With endless time ahead, we couldn’t resist.

The world winks at children at the end of their nose,

Offering riches and delights they never suppose.

Then it happens and we wonder what happened;

Our future of endless days could now be reckoned.

How many hours, days, months, hopefully years left;

The path forward ever dwindles and feels like theft.

Old age something that happened to others.

Our aunts, uncles, grandfathers, grandmothers.

Childhood moments all seemed as a wish fulfilled;

Our happiness came easily of all we ever willed.

Old age moments all seem as wishes unfulfilled;

Our future seems empty, now that our cup is filled.

Gone those childhood devotions that found their brim,

Now wearing a second-hand suit and feeling grim.

When my life is finally over and done,

I will not ask myself what happened and why.

I will not remember having been old or young,

As my soul takes wing and flies away into the sky.

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(c) John Herlihy 12 June 2019