Then and Now

You have enjoyed your years so far
and sit in quiet reflection
but changes happening to your mind
promotes panic for resurrection.

You want to tie your shoes and wash the car
run up the stairs and then
without thought carry a pile of stuff
and run down those stairs again.

Viewing other towns and countries
on TV within your home
gives a yearning to revisit places
you were once so free to roam.

Now all the fuss at airports and the long
trek to the plane
precludes a once world traveller
from ever going abroad again.

Pathos and unfairness brings on tears
you try to hard to hide
confused emotions spar with anger
and you suppress the pain inside.

There was a day when a beer fixed it all
and conscience was something rare
when all that mattered were results 
and thoughts of others weren't there.

But treat yourself kindly old man
you are entirely free to choose
to forgive the way you lived before 
and stop hitting on the bruise.