past belief in poetry

don’t let nobody else in the world make you old
no one else’s stern words or opinions
no one’s jobs or expectations of you
nobody’s laws ideas or mythologies either
none of these things can make you old
unless you make the mistaken choice
of buying the con-job they’re selling

I’m not saying you won’t someday get old
be old, if we’re lucky we get to be old
but only your body can make you old
can’t avoid bodies eventually making us old
because that’s how being alive works
that’s a part of flesh’s whole deal
but only your body can make you old
nothing and no one else can make you
not unless you allow them to do so

no one’s penny-ante bullshit rules
no ideology or textbook definition
nothing else
not even you
unless you let it
your body will make you old one day
your body will make you old soon enough
if you’re even lucky enough to get that far
but until then
you are young
until your body shits out on you
you are young
don’t let nobody rush you there
they don’t get to
you are young
you are young you are young you are young