Growing Old

Its my birthday and I am happy as can be

An year just got added to my kitty

As I look behind at how the years have taken their toll

Some thoughts of the gradual transition do unfold

Although there is no panic yet, the feet doesn't grow cold

Yet there have been some significant changes, as I've grown old

Back then, life was never too depressing; I had no complaints from fate

As long as I could have my fill, drown myself in chocolate

Sweets, chips and dollops of ice cream

And things didn't look as bad as they did seem

But now even seemingly harmless delicacies merely touch the lip

Before they go zooming past to promptly deposit at the hip

Words that once rattled effortlessly from my tongue

Now stay right at the tip, enjoying the fun

I could once quote from memory, but now as I age

I write them down to remember, only to forget where I kept the page

I struggle and finally find the document, proud of my feat

Only to realize the data it held is now obsolete!

Books I could once quickly devour

A few hundred pages in under an hour

Now barely a couple of pages and the eyes go sore

A few more pages and then starts the snore

When I jerk awake and try to give it another shot

Turns out I have invariably lost the plot.

Conversations once centered on hot, handsome men

Shopping and sales were all consuming then

Too soon it was about kids and their antics

School, studies, their tantrums and tricks

Tests once meant exams, results, pressure tactics

Now its more about BP, cholesterol, diabetes...

All said and done, growing old does suit me

It definitely beats being ashes sprinkled at sea