I got  old
somewhere, somehow, suddenly
and if the story be told,
I thought forever I wasn’t very old
but I paid the penalty with taking risks almost deadly,
but very abruptly by Father-time, I was told,
“Be wise. Own up to your aches and pains
and don’t look sideways,
but face it straight on as a way to gain
a heads-up on life’s wiser ways.
It doesn’t mean to sit it out
and it doesn’t mean you have no clout,
but leave the big risks behind
so you don’t fall on yours. Period.”