Old

Life feels so old to me. 

A soul lumbering about like an old man

with his cane and crooked back. 

Stooped as if there had been some great weight 

pushing his neck down his whole life

but it was only his mind. 

A spirit caricatured: big ears, big nose -

ironically defunct but covered over

with hearing aids and a forgetfulness

of what she used to smell like

when I woke up in the middle of the night

and her warmth and breath and scent

came to me as one thing in the darkness.

She is still here, the forgotten memories 

just explanations for the peace I have. 

So I go on plodding past our familiar things and I pray.

Oh God, hear my prayer.