Just You Wait

Those of us who’ve reached the age

Of “senior” status know

That many things are different from

The days of long ago.

Yet we remember how it felt

To be a child or teen

Or young adult or middle-aged

And all the years between.

For looking back is easy; we had

Energy to spare,

Youthful bodies, unlined faces 

And a head of healthy hair.

Those of younger age, however,

Cannot ever comprehend

That they’ll lose the version of themselves

On which they now depend.

They are rooted in denial,

Thinking they won’t ever be

Someone looking in a mirror

And not liking what they see.

So the “wisdom” of the old, then,

Is you can’t avoid your fate.

Aging’s guaranteed to happen;

Don’t believe it? Just you wait!