I Have Been a Long Way

I looked a long time

at a young face.

It was me.

The eyes were clear,

the jaw was firm.

The shoulders too

were higher than now.

The I of that time

was looking ahead.

I

stood before that face.

I lifted my chin a little

and squared my shoulders.

I straightened

my back.

For a moment

it felt like the old body again.

Soon

my breath grew short.

I

let the body go.

The shoulders came down

and the back bent again.

The shoulders in the painting

did not come down.

For a while

we looked at each other.

The young I asked,

“How far

did you go?”

The answer

came late.

“A long way.

I have been a long way.”

I

did not straighten my back again.

I stood before that face

a little longer.

Then

I turned.

I walked slowly

toward the door.

The bent back

left the room

first.