Old Bones Unbroken

OLD BONES UNBROKEN In my later years I’ve come to believe Living long does not determine the depth of a life lived As lives and love stem from a special nodule in a person’s heart A connection established a long, long time ago A time when we were tiny, small varmints, mammals I find my old age creeping around me relentlessly Wrapping me in loneliness in my hours of consternation Seeking the youth I royally misspent with gusto I had fun Like any kid I wallowed in the gaiety of the day as long as I could I played like a Banshee high on donkey dung I played taking care I didn’t hurt myself much Aged fossil bones are thankful when the body is respected in youth Old bones seek happy as the old body seeks rest Joyful old bones seek painless old muscles Our old exhausted minds welcome less strain on our bodies Like a nun who prays to the four winds For safe passage through the hinterlands of painful oblivion Old age welcomes the body when it escapes broken bones.