I got a letter from the government
A week back, Tuesday morning
It came in a grey envelope
It was stamped with a red warning

The envelope was tattered
And the words were inked in red
To be opened by recipient
That was all it said

I checked the name typed on there
It was mine, so I could see
John Augustus Reed
Beale Street, Unit 43

I opened it and sat right down
I had been drafted so it said
I had to report on Thursday
I heard a ringing in my head

I didn't understand it all
To me it made no sense
This plain grey mottled envelope
Sent from my government

I followed the instructions
And showed up promptly at the place
Something was asunder
I could tell from the man's face

I showed him my draft letter
Explained, I didn't understand
He looked at it and laughed a bit
This wasn't what I'd planned

He said son, is this you
Are you John Augustus Reed
I told him I'm John Junior
He said that's all the news I need

This letter is a glitch, boy
It wasn't meant for you
It was sent out to your father
Back in nineteen seventy two

Somehow it was mangled
Got lost along the way
Until somebody found it
And you got it on that day

I'm glad you chose to come here
Showed up exactly when it said
But, I think you now can go on home
I think it's best, instead

It's amazing how one letter
And you can take this to the bank
Can fill a man with honor
For that I must give thanks.

I wake up to the morning groaning
The moment I raise my head
Never heed the daily warning
You'd be better off staying in bed

I stumble my way to the mirror
The lines on my face look like a road map
That has taken me from there to here
Although I can't remember where that is at

What parts don't droop are sagging
Making their way to places unknown
A matter that's not worth laughing
When was it that I got so old

No longer can I tie my shoes
But thanks to the magic of Velcro
I used to only gum my food
But thanks to new teeth from an AARP loan

I have both a cane and walker
Depends on the mood my limbs are in
I used to be as limber as Luke Skywalker
Now I'm only as angry as a scene from Gunga Din

Believe me I used to be hot in my day
Now everywhere I go I'm cold
Not sure I asked but by the way
When was it that I got so old

It has a way of either repressing or promoting sound.
It is easier to display your innermost thoughts in it.
But it can also lower your voice, giving you a place to hide.
You can be small or large, dead or alive.
Who would know?

Lifeline

We touched hands today

For the last time as lovers.

Familiar and full of old feelings.

The tracing of your lifeline

Swirling like our time together,

It reaches a fork like we have.

You take one path I the other.

Even as we part

I feel old warm glows from before.

Your hand speaks to my fingertips

All the words we no longer can say.

left with empty silence.

I look at our time

a small part of your lifeline

full of promises and passion.

Now just echoes of the past.

Unable to return to the beginning

I am left alone once more

With my memories.

And all my yesterdays