When I’m up in the night Because I have to *** I say to myself wryly, “This is longevity.” I remind myself then This is the way things are When a person my age Manages to get this far.
I repeat to myself then How stupid I was as a kid And make an inventory Of the dumb stuff I did. And how I didn’t see How lucky I had been To have so much energy And ambition back then.
I remember weekends Where I played until three And woke up very early Ready for the day happily. I remind myself of freedom From aching backs and knees, And for decades on end, Doing whatever I pleased.
I remember, and that alone, Is a victory for my years Because my memory works well; Not so much my aging ears. And glasses must be found To get from here to the bed. By now I am celebrating That I am here, and not dead.