So Old so Young

Douglas Silver

 

How did we become old men so young?

Composing epitaphs in the same breath as first love,

Yes, how did we become so old so young?

Bred from summer license, we flaunted those moments that made sense.

Assured at home, we made home wherever we went.

We who grew gray hairs out of loss and pretense,

Yes, how did we become so old so young?

Our flaws sat inside those gems like the brittle dead,

And from that day on we bore castrated intent.

We, whose lives began and ended on the tongues of ecstasy and dread;

How did we become so old so young?

We who respected consequence and toasted waning belief,

Traded in force for bitters and rocking chairs,

Hedged bets on pints and comic relief.

Yes, how did we become so old so young?

We who knew what we wanted, knew that to be our curse.

We who made bread of verse, preferred disease to shun.

Awaken, stirred by morning whispers of gravel submersed.

So old so young; once exuberant and naked, now a cult overrun.