i'm twenty five now
officially
halfway to fifty
yet i'm aching to go back
i want to drive through my hometown after curfew
feeling deliriously dangerous
i want to sleep through math class
i want to gossip in the cafeteria

i want there to be no responsibilities
i don't want to stress so much
i'd love to have less worry

alas

time doesn't stop
not even in a pandemic
and we all must age  
and continue on with our days