The Panic of Growing Older By Lenrie Peters
The panic
of growing older
spreads fluttering wings
from year to year
At twenty
stilled by hope
of gigantic success
time and exploration
At thirty
a sudden throb of
pain. Laboratory tests
have nothing to show
Legs cribbed
in domesticity allow
no sudden leaps
At the moon now
Copybook bisected
with red ink
and failures –
nothing to show the world
Three children perhaps
the world expects
it of you. No
specialist’s effort there.
But science gives hope
of twice three score
and ten. Hope
is not a grain of sand.
Inner satisfaction
dwindles in sharp
blades of expectation
from now on the world has you.
– The Panic of Growing Older By Lenrie Peters
