Destiny

I’ve come this far and there’s no turning back.

Thank God for that. Whomever it was to set

the rules knew exactly what they were doing.

There’s a whole world, eons of history behind

us. Life on the planet speaks to you and me

emphatically. You’re only young once. I have

witnessed gifts of dwindling possibilities.

And the endowment of youth is fleeting.

Oh, as with most who live long enough, I

sometimes bemoan the loss. Now, I’m not

about to praise old age, mind you. I grieve

past memories some days. And I abhor the

inheritance of weakness and pain as my

arthritic limbs guide me wobbly and unsure

into my rightful place of old age—at home

alone with my books, my thoughts and writing,

and my dog, with sufficient enough provisions

in the fridge and on the shelves to sustain me

for a while. No need for a clean shirt these

days, nor a trimmed beard and combed hair

either. No job to attend or taxes to be paid.

No upkeep for a car or a girlfriend to please.

I’ll leave those earthly cares to the young folks

who shall repeat all the mistakes I have made.

I’ll merely do what it takes should it appeal to me.

I have come this far, and there’s no turning back.

The road sign ahead is a bit blurry for me. But I

know what the bold black letters portend—Dead

End. Even given my reduced speed, sooner

rather than later, I am destined to get there.

Young ones, at your frenetic and carefree pace

coming up from behind, you may one day

catch up to me. Then you too shall see—

History speaks truth to us all eventually.

                           -30-

Chris Hanch 4-7-2020