sweet caroline

you know you are
getting old,
you accept it. you
surrender, as if there
was some choice, but
sometimes you
look exactly as
you did when you
woke up. this annoys you
and makes you buy
women's creams
to rub into your face.
despite the price,
they don't work, no
matter how hard you
lather them on.
the wrinkles just
won't settle
down and go away.
your knees creak,
hour hands
stiffen, even your
voice is getting
gravely, like
how your grandmother's
was when she used
to curse out
president kennedy
in front of the tv.
how well you
remember that,
another clue
to how old you have
become. how you loved
that little caroline.