Look, they say, the Old Man

He lives by Wisdom's Rule.

    But I'm a child in the cradle of life

    Still and forever to be God's fool.

He's a learned man, they say.

Traveled and well read.

    But I'm a teller of the tallest tales

    Who sailed the seven seas from the dreamboat of his bed.

See the crows feet at his eyes,

The lines of smiles deep in his face.

    But all the lines are claw marks of the vulture,

    The smiles too few to leave a trace.

To be like him when I am old

They sigh with hopeful tongue.

    But who am I to disillusion

    Aging visions of the ignorant, faithful young?

To live again, they've heard me boast,

I'd do it all the same.

    But if they only knew I never

    Even like the sound of  my own name.

Tombstones last forever,

So, please, after I die

    Don't let the words, "He's satisfied"

    Become an eternal lie.

I would the truth be known.

So let it read, "Here lies

    What in life appeared a butterfly

    Was just a caterpillar in disguise.