This year is passing, closing, closed,
and all I can do is blink like a new kitten in a sudden sun.

Our youth, our beautiful empty youth, seems ages from here.
We are suddenly and disconcertingly men and women
in a world we never meant to join.

Beauty fades,
women age,
and I am going bald.

You with one boy gone
and more scars than you ever thought you'd carry.
Me with no women to show for all my trouble,
and less hair than I ever imagined.

But

Somewhere there is another night to be had,
music, and wine, and all the beauty of growing up,
with our memories and our love.
Somewhere those nights are waiting for us,
they are cold, but the fire is warm, and our smiles are big.

You will bear more scars, and sadly I will lose more hair,
but between us there will always be one more night to share.

AcB 10.20.00