The Last Parade

Here is why...No one explained it to

me at the time. When I was twenty,

thirty, in my forties and fifties, no one

bothered to inform me. I am partly to

blame, for either I neglected to ask,

or was too fearful to inquire...Why?

Indeed, up until the time I unwittingly

stumbled into my seventies, I gave it

very little thought if any. Why is it

when folks reach a certain age they

spend a good deal of time looking

not ahead, but behind? Well, I’ll tell

you, here is a reason why: Let’s say

your are now the drum major, and all

the music of your life is played, all the

stirring tones and sour notes, the entire

parade of your life falls in line behind

you. All your cherished memories are

there, even the missteps taken march to

the commemorative baton you waive.

And ahead, the parade of your lifetime is

inevitably scheduled to come to an end.

Everyone will disband and return to the

respective tombs from which they came.

And you, well you saw ahead to this day

from several blocks away. One lone snare

drummer beats a somber dirge for the very

last time as he turns and slowly walks away.

This is why when folks reach a certain age

they look behind as they take up the baton

and march forward, leading the way either

in glory or the bane of their very last parade.

Chris Hanch 3-6-18