Blessings and Curses

By Thomas Caterer

The young who fear old age are cursed
The old who envy the young are cursed

The old who yearn to be replaced and wish
power, freedom, and joy to the young
their burdens are light, and they go
not unhappily to their graves
they welcome the dark with smiles

The old who fear the end
are resentful of those who took different paths
jealous of the new wave of life meant to replace them
they writhe, and they kick, and they scream
their faces contort with rage, and their mouths foam

They spat at and cursed those who were different
but they were made to feed worms like all those
they looked down upon
their burdens are crippling

The old who guided and healed
Liberated and truly loved
not a mockery of love, but truly did
who told truths when it was hard
rather than lies when it was easy
their joints may ache
their backs may play up
but they are not so attached now
to the material they borrowed
they feel at peace
and are reunited with transition
embracing it in mutual affection
like seeing an old friend again after so long

The young who fear old age are cursed
but they have time to lift it for themselves
and perhaps for others who see them