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Dialogue with Father Time
A Poem
My younger self might say, as I picture the rollercoaster of life ahead:
I’d like to have
the rosy cheeks from the exhilarating ride, but not the nicks and scratches,
the thrills, but not the heartache,
the breathless climbs, but not the dips and tummy-wrenching drops,
the laugh lines, but not the tear marks,
the close companions, but not the dreaded detractors,
the gains, but not the losses,
the crown of wisdom for my head, but not the eyes jaded by evil,
the flexed muscles of youth, but not the sagging ones of age.
Decades later,
Father Time has answered, wordlessly:
all these have been necessary.
The one is possible only accompanied by the other.
Cherish the good;
be grateful for the opposites,
for only in contrast
do you truly appreciate
those things you desired.
