How do you know....
That you've grown old

When you see a luscious
human creation,
And don't think
Hot damnation

How do you know...
That you are an adult

When you see a diving board,
And think holy sht,
As a seven year pushes past you,
Climbing up, screaming with glee

How do you know...
You are married happily

when each of you knows
The other snores,
But neither ever mentions it

How do you know...
it's time to file

To divorce the twit you married
When you were young and so dumb,
When you introduce her as
My Wife but think secretly I'm wasting my life

How do you know...
You will be an ok parent

When you offer to press your  lips
To a child's cut, wounded knee,
Proclaiming confidently your kisses
Will make the boo boo feel all better,
And believe it is the  absolute truth

How do you know...
It is genuine 100% love sickness, heartbreak disease

When you see her at the cafeteria, a conference,
She doesn't glance your way even once,
And you can't take your eyes off her skin,
And the chronic ache in your chest that has been there
For months, suddenly become a full fledged pain,
Again


How do you know...
You-believe -

Is when
The question
No longer occurs

How do you know...
When you have acquired wisdom

When you hold your sobbing daughter of eighteen
In your arms, saying over and over,
It will be ok,
Knowing full well
It will be too

How do you know...
It is time.

I don't know, but when I do,
I will surely tell,
With that titled poem,
**One Last Write, One Last Rite.