If I am old,
\nhow much older is the earth?
\nBillions of years,
\nolder than forever,
\nolder than dust.
\nIf I am old,
\nhow much older is that?
\nI am a mere trestle of morning glories,
\na few memories,
\ntears in the middle of sun drops,
\na bracelet of mementos,
\na few strands of gray,
\nall make believe.<\/p>\n
Because if earth is so old,
\nwhy does it break the heart in spring?
\nFill kites with laughter?
\nHow does it remain a child,
\ncoming from the womb?
\nLike the strawberry kiss of a woman,
\nwrapped in ribbons
\nand voices coming across water?<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t know how the earth ages.
\nI don\u2019t see it complain and write sad letters.
\nIt comes to my window and says,
\ncome out and play!
\nIt\u2019s not cold!
\nIt\u2019s not raining!
\nThe frost is a white ring
\naround my finger,
\nthe rain is foam blown off a sea.
\nCome out and play in the sky,
\neverything is new,
\nonly minutes old
\nonly made to last for a moment!<\/p>\n
So I have accepted the challenge.
\nI will never sit on a shelf,
\ncomplain of bad joints.
\nThat is the cost of doing business,
\nof playing and dancing.
\nI am resigned to perpetual youth,
\nto never saying no,
\nto days lived without number,
\nand without regret.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If I am old, how much older is the earth? Billions of years, older than forever, older than dust. If I am old, how much…<\/p>\n