PENnED

Oh one! Oh one! Whose birth falls on January one!
At this age what have you already done?
Perhaps that’s the wrong question to ask an old man
A better question to ask such a man is ‘Are you a grown man?’

But what do we mean when we ask an old man if he’s a grown man?
Physical stature is measurable and is a lot easier to define
But when it comes to growth, build and looks aren’t what he wants you to find
His inner being is more important than anything else that you can find

Conscious of my consciousness, I am aware that I am
But I am conscious that I am not alone in such consciousness
So I don’t give in to the idea that I am “The Great I Am”
Indeed the opposite is happening within: the more I see the vast universe, the smaller I see myself

When one passes life beyond halfway through
In his late 60’s he becomes more aware that life can be almost through
Especially so when he feels so fragile and unwell
And thoughts of his own brothers, who passed away when about his age, on his mind sadly dwell

Sometimes I think that I’m being crazy—
Thinking ‘God willing, I’m going to do this and that one of these days’
But perhaps that’s why I’m still here today
‘God’s not done with me yet,’ as I heard some folks would like to say

So I do my part, to keep myself up to whatever task has been entrusted to me
I daily walk and listen to teachers to keep both my body and mind healthy
I share thoughts to anyone who is willing to listen
Hoping that light would help dispel some darkness within