The Wish-List At Midlife

There was and is a time in life,
With stage a factor, when my wife
And I saw life as up ahead –
We could not fathom being dead.

The shift for me came rather late –
It’s hard for me to fix the date
I made the mid-life shift – though they
(my neighbor folks) set roles to play.

But that’s not new – it’s been that way
Since first I saw the light of day –
“You’re much too young”, “too dumb”, “too smart”,
“Too male”, “too white”, “too into art” –

“Not rich”, “not poor”, “not hip”, “not cool”,
“Too kind”, “you hunt”, “you’re poor with tools”,
They had this thing called “resume”
To filter out who couldn’t play.

But age and stage have always been,
The lens through which I’m mostly seen –
Most useless filter of them all
It’s even worse than “short or tall”.

For after each descriptive phrase,
There needs to be a purpose raised –
“Too short for what?” Paint ceilings high?
“Too tall for what?” On hammocks lie?

Through life in each society,
There is a list, “What one should be
To be by others viewed as hot
[“See – I’m the choicest of the lot”].

To build my life, I came to see,
On people’s insecurity,
Was not a good approach to life;
“We’re each unique” agreed my wife –

Each year she taught a brand-new class,
Their age the same; all mostly passed;
Most dressed the same, or similar;
In time all were familiar.

So as she came to know each group,
Uniqueness showed – no creamy soup,
More like a stir-fry in the pan,
Prepared the same, but each part can –

Be seen as separate from the rest,
Each in its way perceived as best;
For life requires a variety,
Each age and stage to meet some need.

Their way? “Best to eliminate
The competition at the gate,
So we’ll be winners in the end,
And to the victor’s throne ascend”.

The only hitch – there is no top –
“The top of what?” Look what you’ve got!
So climb the mountain set for you,
There’s plenty there for you to do.

Why waste your time on others’ lists?
Be giving others what you wish
You had received (or lucked into);
There’s plenty there for you to do.

Then count your lucky stars my friend,
If you complete before your end
The tasks God laid upon your heart;
To reach that point, it’s best to start.

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