Generations

When I was a child,

Time seemed to pass so slowly,

As if stuck in mud.

The clock on the wall

Marked the dragging feet of time.

Eternal minutes.

Adults would always say,

“Don’t be in such a hurry!

You’re only young once.”

Never old enough

To do the things I wanted,

Life seemed so unfair.

Adults would always say,

“You’ll be old enough next year.”

A lifetime away!

What do grown-ups know!

They’re already old enough

To do what they want!

Please, time! Hurry up!

I want to be older now.

I can’t wait for you.

Make me taller now!

Make me stronger and smarter!

Why are you so slow?!

When did it happen?

I don’t recall precisely

When time picked up speed.

Not a lot, at first.

Barely enough to notice.

Minutes got shorter.

Days passed more quickly.

As if trying to catch up

With the child in me.

Suddenly I found

That I was old enough to drive!

Old enough to vote.

I met a woman.

We talked for hours on the phone.

Love came up a lot.

Time moves quickly now.

Old enough to fall in love.

“Will you be my wife?”

Time speeds up again.

Years pass and the babies come.

All the rules just changed.

Did God flip some switch?

Nothing seems to be the same.

My boss is such an ass!

I don’t understand.

Stress has changed my attitude.

I get angry now.

Work, work, work, work, work!

At home, all we do is fight

She wants a divorce.

We were such good friends

Being married, we just fought.

Now we’re friends again.

And still time speeds by

Racing to some finish line

Over the next hill.

No longer children,

Now My sons are all grown up.

I hear wedding bells.

Then time sprouted wings.

I’m too young to be so old!

Gray hair doesn’t lie.

Children have children!

Too soon, they can walk and talk.

They call me papa!

Please time, let’s stop here.

I like this place. Can’t we stay?

I’m in no hurry.

Then I hear them say,

“When will I be old enough…”

I get nostalgic.

It really is true;

“Youth is wasted on the young.”

Visions of my past.

With love in my eyes,

I say, “You’re only young once”.

And time rushes on.

Mark Mickey

January 9, 2020