Mirror, mirror on the wall
in front of you I stand tall,
evergreen with virgin air,
confident without a care.
In prime of life and freshness,
in state of juvenescence.
I look at my reflection,
my body such perfection.
I'm a mirror in the hall,
tall as hung upon this wall,
show only what's true and fair
self-importance I don't share.
With this ego you possess
I don't see your youthfulness,
disrobing your pretension
reveals your true reflection.
Juvenescence shines like the sun’s slow climb
and I see a bird not yet flown its cage,
I hear the footsteps in the march of time -
a journey of self, a coming of age!
Thus you Peter Pan on wings of an elf,
who seeks to fly between far and never,
must now say goodbye to your childish self
and dreams of eternal youth forever.
So fly dear boy, fly and never look back
and richly love the heart and feel the soul -
save close your nobilities lest you lack
for all that you do bears a living toll.
And turn your mind from temptation unsought
with all care and profundity of thought.
Written: March 2015
When I look on my life that's now half-spent,
I sigh the loss of youth that's forever past,
wishing myself better Fortune's consent,
love, friends, and wealth with naught to lose or waste,
but for the mean expense of young love lost;
despising this, I oft' bemoan the loss
of vestal company's first time the most;
for matrons offend like mouldering moss,
which, like Time's sure, inexorable march,
destroys the juvenescence of life's spring
year by year till extinguishing Youth's torch,
a dead flame for which I am most desiring.
If I could live and love anew once more,
I'd not err this time: and lay a rude whore.
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