Roll with it

When you’re eighteen, you know it all,

except of course you know diddly squat.

You’ve probably never had to take care of yourself

support yourself or one who depended upon you,

you’ve probably never known true hardship,

the same as you likely do not know true love or loss.

Life throws you a few curve balls now and then.

And when you’re ready for those,

watch out for the lemon twister.

I keep thinking to myself there must be something great in store for me,

because if there’s justice somewhere, I should get mine, no?

There must be something up ahead to counter all this bad luck?

A hidden prize I am as yet unaware of?

I’m sure millions of people must have thought those thoughts,

even relatives of mine, drifting, wondering, hoping, aging.

And then they’re old, worn out and tired,

kids moved out - their love got them this far –

but never having learned the pivotal lesson:

roll with the punches, while carving your own path.

MdG 6-7-2011