I try to keep up but the youngsters
walk faster talk faster work faster eat faster
           play faster learn faster . . .
“Becomes harder every year doesn’t it”
quips another old man at the beach
in his floppy hat and Growing Old Ain’t
for the Faint Hearted T-shirt
watching me taking up the rear
clutching onto my towel and chair.
Sure does but at least I made it
           to the ocean
again this year best place
in the world to recharge the old batteries.


© by Michael Estabrook.
Used with the author’s permission.