you begin your assent to the stars,

with the blessings of old gray men,

who once themselves dreamed of going far.

Bright and new is your sleek horizon,

And your destination easily within in view,

for you now see the rising, and not the setting of the sun.

For your days, have yet to cloud

with times ever approaching doom,

the one which befalls the old gray men

that you in eagerness will replace oh so soon.

With your thick dark hair, all full of curl

And your skin not stretched by the cruelty of time,

 you with confidence, give life a whirl

And begin your starry celestial climb.

your steps are easy as the days are new

and with a young mans strength you whisk right by,

as the old gray men who in weakness of both body and mind,

stumble in humble confusion half blind.

So climb while you can,

And spread your golden wings and fly,

So sprint at a hurried pace, and make haste for your life to shine,

For all too soon my young and willing friend,

You too will see the sky as it gathers its dark setting hues

And you will see all those days that you spent racing to the top,

will suddenly spin to a maddening stop.

For it is then that there shall be... another golden boy

who with glistening wings of eternal youth, makes way to replace an old gray you.

For you in the sadness of time,

have become the forgotten one.

J. Allen Wilson © 2004