61 Is Fine By Me – A Poem by David Lohrey
Is 61 old?
It is my birthday and I called my mother.
She said how are you? And was disappointed when I replied just fine.
“Are you happy to be getting older?”
Happy?
Does one have a choice?
Is it getting older or getting younger?
If one is 60, one becomes 61 or 59?
No, it’s 61 or dying.
Getting older is fine by me.
I’m happy with another day.
When you’re 11, you can think getting older
Is not for me. I’ll marry mommy and be young forever.
I’d prefer older and tomorrow to
Staying young today and tomorrow.
Getting older and older is fine by me.
The alternative is dying, not getting finer.