Youth N-Age-A

A young dark haired girl playing jax upon a sidewalk The Bronx, 1930’s, oozing ethnicity and a strange sort of talk Wrist cocked, jax spew, red ball bouncing, bouncing If time stood still, we can see her rejoicing What happens next is the only matter No thought of anguish should Doris or Joyce choose to scatter A young woman finds her man, her narrow purpose becomes clear A family of four, suburbia, a job without a life, yet there is no fear The tumultuous 60’s see her blossom, wanting to flourish Yet never discovering a path she could nourish She enjoys friends, she gives love, she lives stress Short of patience, delighting in ignorance, accepting of less Yearning for more but with no clear vision Accepting her destiny without derision Her grandchildren revitalize, oh what treasure Exceeding rewards felt from her own, by a measure Years skip past, they never seem to last Life advances at an increasing pace, carving long weary lines upon her face In her son, she leaves a legacy of confidence, pride and hunger to achieve All because it was her who did believe She has earned our love A gentle caress, never again to feel distress As the end nears Stripped of her dignity and her fears She has our love, through any imperfection At this moment of inflection, she should go Each of us will pray, for your time is today Youth n-Age-a