The Old Man In the Mirror
You think it a lie, seeing that
old man in the mirror: some
imposter taking your name,
living in your house, calling
out to your wife as though
he had married her 40 years
ago and not you... what can
the old fellow want of you,
you wonder, and would ask,
but you fear his laughter....
So you never speak with him
and he runs the place just
as he sees fit: sleeping late,
eating early, taking a nap
and going for brief walks
when you'd prefer a jog.
He also doesn't care much
for taking those long drives
you love so much--too, too
far away from comfy home.
A thousand carefree miles
is but a dream to you,
while he shudders like it's
climbing Mount Everest!
Worst of all, he is less
patient with the myriad
fools of the world-- so
he'll rant and rave
when clerks misbehave.
And his politics! Right
and right he feels,
caring naught for the
downtrodden masses.
Yet he is kinder than
you ever were, more
thoughtful of others,
more giving, less taking.
He loves his friends and
doesn't seduce women
only to leave them empty.
Best of all, the old man
loves God-- he won't
see belief as folly,
for he has learned
the real illusion is
mortality, so he knows
death is a door, not
an impregnable wall.
You could learn much
from the old man
you share a life with,
but you won't, for
you are young--
what are God and
death and endless
soul to you...?
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