I must admit I didn’t do
the things I was encouraged to –
I drank and smoked and sat up late
and Youth has passed its sell-by date.
I’ve tried to rearrange the stage
that looked set up for middle-age,
but even with a gallant front,
it’s time to drop back ten and punt.
The label “old” would still be wrong –
it’s just that I’ve been young so long.