This day is the last day
that I am able to say
I am seventy-four.
My aching body feels the score.
I have pushed constantly my rock uphill.
Now, it pauses at the top, momentarily still.
I halt to feel the weight of years gone by,
the laughter and tears, the chuckles and sighs.
I am ready to cross the great divide
and slide downhill as my youth subsides.
It is downhill where I shall find
my fastest speed of all my time.
The wind feels stronger,
helping my journey, afraid no longer
of what awaits at the end,
or even, just around the bend.
The scenery blurs on the way,
replaced by memories of every past day.
Memories are more sure to my eye
then all that staccato-like flies by.
When I finally reach bottom
I can let the rock roll away, forgotten.
Finally, I can spend my days at play
take off my shoes, grinning teeth on display
and smiling with unbridled joy at the past
sigh to the heavens, “At last! At last!”
annarino writes 