Becoming old

Suddenly, on any given day, walking up the sidewalks

became more difficult, it seemed they were higher;

the noise of children and teenagers became louder,

it started to bother you;

your children have passed the line of youth

and you see them as middle-aged people,

almost elderly;

that book or movie everyone recommended to you,

and after fifteen minutes of reading or watching it,

you get bored because you have already guessed

the ending it is proposing;

you have become different, more reserved, quieter,

looking suspiciously at everyone around you,

even old friends;

also, that young and beautiful woman,

you never fail to notice and you see

with eyes of rapture and admiration,

even desire, and she withdraws

and does not reciprocate;

then you ask yourself – do people think I have stopped

loving what is beautiful in this world?

despite everything, you maintain your vigor and fullness,

which they seem to ignore, so you have to learn to live

with a new status that has been granted to you;

allowing them not to know or suspect that your youth was

much happier than theirs, and that they will never have

one like it, because time and the wind took it away,

and it is hidden, forever and ever.

Published in The Wise Owl, May 2025 issue.

edilsonmeloferreira