They look like timid children
\nentering the health screening.
\nOld people.
\nLife against the dam of time.
\nThey are the clergy of fatalism.
\nSo much needs to be accepted
\nwhen you are old.
\nSo much heartbreak and happiness
\ngets mixed up in the soul.
\nCan I have a souvenir?
\nFor living so long.
\nSomething to show Providence.
\nSomething to hang on to from an outing.
\nOnly a few look afraid.<\/p>\n
Most stare, as if the common place
\nis beautiful.
\nLife was full of the beautiful.
\nBut their eyes are sad.
\nFog hides so much,
\nand remembering is short,
\nlike a stick that can\u2019t poke into holes,
\nor bat a tree trunk.
\nThey look at each other like the lonely
\nwho have nothing to say.
\nSmile,
\nthen avert their eyes
\nas if they don\u2019t care.
\nAll they want to do is leave.
\nThat is all there is to do,
\none minute at a time,
\nleave.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
They look like timid children entering the health screening. Old people. Life against the dam of time. They are the clergy of fatalism. So much…<\/p>\n