La Vejez

It will come to me slowly
and find me distracted
probably asleep
on a laurel mattress.
It will settle in the mirror,
inevitable and serene
and will start its task
with the first sketches.

With some silver strands
it will paint my hair
and a line on my neck
that will cover the tie.
It will increase my greed,
my tricks and whims
and will give me a pair of glasses
to suffer the news.

Old age...
is just around any corner,
there, where one least expects
it presents itself for the first time.
Old age...
is the toughest of dictatorships,
the solemn closing ceremony
of what was youth once.

With admirable skill,
like the best craftsman
it will take away from my hands
all their former firmness
and advising the doctor,
it will make me quit smoking
because they will say that the cold
is gaining ground.
It will invent a couple of excuses
to lessen impotence,
"that experience is worth more
than illusory pretensions",
it will bring me the scarf,
the cloth slippers
and the rheumatism that year after year
will increase its demand.

Old age... is the antechamber of the inevitable,
the last passable road
facing the doubt... what will come next?...
Old age... is all the baggage of my life,
ready at the exit door
through which one can no longer return.

Maybe, more than old
I will be an honorable elder,
calm and most likely,
a great giver of advice
or worse, out of jealousy
it will keep me away from people
and slowly cut off
my poor, last roses.

Old age...
is just around any corner,
there, where one least expects
it presents itself for the first time.
Old age...
is the toughest of dictatorships,
the solemn closing ceremony
of what was youth once.

*******************************************
J. C. M. P.