Age2 Poem by Don Pearson

Age forgets its reckless acts
Remembers only what it wants,
“The young today show no respect.
It was not like that in our day.”

“Back then, we did as we were told.”
(Lost in mist the dance-hall years,
The drunken fights, the groping hands.
The beaten wives were never heard.)

Proud Augustus, no doubt feared,
The coming generation’s fall.
“The young are weak, no discipline.
The empire’s lost. You mark my words.”

As youth must disrespect the old,
And treat as nothing age’s cares,
So age will often scorn the young,
As time pursues its fleeing years.

1st October 2009