wizened creature of time
trying to form me to your image
oblivious to possibility
you trade the truth for clarity
your perspective for myopia
unwilling to be reborn
believing the image
others see

look inside that shell
projected and believed
see your youth and strength
well and alive
torch in hand skin against metal
shiny and new
into the breech
and see clear again

lifetimes of memories
why place them on a shelf
you are not finished
despite the reminders
time to learn and share
time to teach
pages are frozen in time
a true legacy lives