Chasing rainbows

As a newborn you wanted

Nothing except a little food

And a lot of sleep

As a toddler, the want expanded to toys

In early school, it was nice dresses

And plenty of playtime

In school, it was grades and ranks

Not your own choice, but still…..

With awareness crept in envy and greed

In college, it was rank

And girls (or boys)

After college, one wanted what

A better student achieved

Overseas education

Fancy jobs and a hefty pay slip

Soon, it was time for marriage

Why? Because everyone else did!

Time to settle said your parents.

Really, settle!

Taking responsibility for another human

And probably a few offspring to boot

Acquire property and debt

Is this someone’s idea of settling?

Then comes the period of amassing things

Why? Because A has it or B has it

Peer pressure is the euphemism

For this inane endeavor

Chase dreams, chase money

Move away, go places, buy things

Bring up children

Rejoice, endure heartbreak

In the blink of an eye

You are 60

Look back and what do you see?

A house, few cars, child/children on their way

Probably still a little debt

Contemplating retirement but

Unable to conclude

Few memorable holidays

Missed funerals and pets lost

Accumulated junk

Physical and metaphorical

Wealth gained and health lost

Arguments won and friends lost

You retire anyway

Not because that is what you want

But because no one else wants you!

Empty nest and loss of zest

Lots of time and nothing to do

Wow – you are 70

And no longer nifty

People avoid you as you

Have become a garrulous bore

Your memory is fading

And so are your faculties

You have lost track of

How old you truly are

Your memories are different

Each time you revisit them

You call a cousin long dead

Reach for the dog that

Perished a decade ago

Wonder why the news is familiar

Not realizing that you are

Reading the news a second time

You wished you had

Lived differently!

Did not know then

And not sure even now

And as you approach

The inevitable end

All you want is

Nothing except little food

And a lot of sleep