It’s as if my fate is
Catching up with me
As if my shuffling
Along life’s dusty hallways
Could bring me
Back to those turnoffs
I have missed

I see a child’s face
And I wonder how I
Managed to miss
That offramp

I see a friend who is
Already a grandma and
Still younger than I
And I think:

Christ
I lived through the
Free love
Disco fever
Safe sex
Days

And I miraculously
Dodged the bullet
Every time
Yet many of my friends
Did not
But taking one for the team
Or whatever the theme-du-jour
Of the day was
I’m the one who lives on
Without a family
Who is the best known
Loner in town
The one who now
Must walk slow

As if walking slow
Would let all my bad
Decisions catch up with me
And let me make the better
Choices this time around

So I could have a happier life

And not be such a drain
On the world and my fellow
Creatures

I’m walking slow
As if there’s any
Real choice

RD Armstrong