Consistency

We old folks like to complain, everything

has changed; nothing is the same. I look

at photos of me taken years ago. Then

in passing, I look into the mirror. Oh good

Lord, more changes every day.

Now at age 73, even 60 looks so much

better to me. At least, I figure, better

this than the only alternative which

awaits me.

Lightning, thunder and rain today, nearer

or farther away, as a child, a man in my

prime, in these my latter years, lightning,

thunder and rain, more or less pretty

much remain the same.

It was said that Samuel Clemens was born

in 1835, a year where Halley’s Comet

appeared. And he left the world in 1910

as Mark Twain, a 75-year period when

Halley’s Comet was visible on Earth again.

Clemens had changed considerably while

Halley’s had remained faithfully the same

to its timing and name.

My mother told me it was a rainy Good

Friday in 1947 when I was delivered. Now,

chances are remarkably slim that the day

of my departure will fall on a Good Friday

as well. But in any case, some rain would

be nice.

As a child, as a man in my prime or in my

latter years, I can rely upon one constant

to remain—more or less, near or farther

away, lightning, thunder and at least the

rain shall be pretty much the same.

                       -30-

Chris Hanch 5-4-2020