At The Gym

I went again today

To my gym;

An older man now,

Fingers clawing at youth,

Either nobly objecting to diminution,

Or foolishly,

A boat beating against the current.

I disrobed;

Glanced hopefully at the mirror;

Hoping for what

Little miracle?

But saw the same man there

Again.

Then again,

Perhaps I saw nothing

But memories.

I entered

The huge cathedral of hope

Nevertheless.

And began my rituals,

Giving agreeable greeting

Here and there

To hopeful comrades,

And receiving them.

No cigars,

Nor brandy

These days.

We grit, groan, grimace,

Then shower and poach,

Dry, dress, and dissolve back

Into our dispersed lives.

No sermons,

No hymns,

No pews

Any longer.

But the same questions

Still reside

Amongst us.

9/14/14