| Saturday, May 1st , 2004 7:18 p.m. pdt |
poetry
by Michael F. Nyiri
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copyright 1999-2004 by Michael F. Nyiri ElectricPoetry AllThingsMike |
Saturday, May 1st , 2004 7:18 p.m. pdt
"Wisdom Deterioration"
Moving ever so slowly, he masquerades as always,
Now the skin hangs, and the massive girth droops,
The wherewithal and the knowledge become puttering and doggerel
Once so stalwart and essential, now old and in the way.Wisdom retains it's innocence, even as age mocks it's veracity
Time bears witness to the physical and mental breakdown of meaning
Words which eludicated in years ago,
Now look fuzzy and blurred beneath the failing eyes,
And the mind can't grasp why
No wonder age is confusedTechnology advances beyond comprehension,
What was painstakingly memorized as technology
Scant decades ago can be filed in the recycle bin
Along with yesterday's deteriorating wisdomWisdom exists in perpetuity, and tells us of this disaster
As soon as a lifetime's thought is learned and catalogued
It is forgotten.
The body becomes a mocking personal crypt
A wise reminder of mortality's comedy,He has almost lived past his abiltiy to matter
And this is life's grand shame.
A lifetime spent teaching what he knew
And now he can't remember
And technology turns communication into a crashed computerMoving ever so slowly, he lumbers to his office
Which he hardly ever leaves anymore,
Manufacturing important procedures which
have already been taken care of by technology.
Nobody visits him at this time when he probably needs it the most.
Because they have work to do.
So each day he performs the masquerade of existence,
Each day he forgets more than most of us remember.
Each day he comes to work.
Until the last day finally arrives.
copyright 1999-2004 by Michael F. Nyiri
ElectricPoetry
AllThingsMike