Classic Poem

" You look remarkably young. "

I? The old mandrake root?

" The white hair
has not reached your genitals yet! "

" What do you do all day? "

I plant radishes, you damn fool!

And hang around doctors' offices,
medical hands on me,
waiting for the report.

And crack jokes:
" I don't deserve this.
I've been faithful to my wife! "

To whom can one turn?

" She was a great beauty in her youth
and came from a distinguished family. "

what is the earthly point of that?

The unrelenting eyes spoke:
" You knew you were going to be old.
Why didn't you prepare for it? "

Well, I have had kindnesses.
But the inexorable!
That's only good
for making eyes compassionate.
So there's a scale
to the rest of me.
Who is there
to carry that burden?
And a drew drop
to collect my affinity
for earth

Merde!

That cry of agony
from a carious tooth,
the man from the age
of orogenies
has left his parameters here
and a memory
of his ordeal.