The Way of Life

At dusk of life, give into reminiscence
With dreamy smile on your face
You'll step into your dreams of obsolescence,
Return to goals of your youthful phase

And sadness comes across as you denote
The faults of bolder youth and wiser middle age
What pity that our insight, wisdom, knowledge
We only gain at life's declining slope
What pity that the treasured knowledge of our fathers
We don't suck right in with mother's milk

What pity that the protest of your youth
Volcanic burst of boiling emotion
Made you defensive and aloof,
Ignoring mother's words of caution
Preferring willful freedom of young life

And now, you are one to give advice
What pity that the protest of the youth
Now makes your kids and their offspring
Preferring life that's free of painful sad mistakes
Oh, pity!

Yet time that life provides for you- so short
How can you build back up what isn't there?
How can you bring back those who aren't there?
We can't go back in time- It's passed
All but regrets of things long lost
Are left for you at sunset of your age
Oh, pity!

Oh, how many faults you could prevent
If only pride you could check in and overcome
Yet youth is given us to make mistakes,
In middle age you learn who wasn't right
As year after year passes by-
You understand how lonely life has grown

As years pass away, you understand-
How cruel you have been to your family and friends
With sadness, you begin to reminisce-
If only earlier, when I was young
I had the insight, knowledge, wisdom,
Which came to me- but so late in life?

Yet, No use! No need for all regrets
An old man doesn't need these aggravatios