-- The Stranger in Me --

John Herlihy

We go through our lives

Living comfortably with ourselves.

We wink and nod at our foibles,

As though we were little elves.

When I wake up in the morning,

Look in the mirror, yep that’s me.

Even as we age, the process of change,

Slow, different, older, but still me.

The burden of the survivor comes clear,

To wake one day and discover a stranger.

I see a person that I no longer know,

Who is that person looking bemused at me.

The pale blue eyes, the sagging flesh,

Thinning white mustache, shiny bald head.

The adorable dimples now age lines,

Aging jowls book-ending that double chin.

Gone the breezy attitude known as carefree,

Endless years ahead without a thought of death.

My ambitions and plans waiting to be free,

Even my worries and doubts hold little heft.

Eyeglasses only magnify the puffy bags,

The eyes themselves filled to the dewy brim.

A once noble brow that now only sags,

Thin lips thinner and looking grim.

Once in demand on every imaginable front,

Now, no one takes the trouble to look my way.

My cash quickly diminishing to a meager amount,

Will I always have enough money my bills to pay.

Whereas once, a young man, appearing ambitious,

Now, as an elderly man, I should appear gracious.

I should never speak first, only unless spoken to,

So as not to intrude upon anyone I never knew.

Whereas once, I just gave myself away so willing,

Now, sitting here alone, the life blood feels spilling.

At that time, a stranger that I had come to know,

Now, I see a stranger that I never did know.

As a child, we are nothing if not exuding innocence,

Now as an old man, wisdom is my only pretense.

Upon waking in the morning, I take one step at a time,

Know my remaining luxury are the few days still mine.

- - - -

Copyright © John Herlihy

Saturday 1 January 2022