Gnossienne No. 1

This old man at 60 can no longer lay claim on midlife.

Each moment must be preserved with care.

For soon, the whippoorwill will call

and a murmuration of starlings foretell

the deepening shadows of dusk—

Winter’s ahead.

And a dog, oblivious to it all, takes a swim.

If I’m honest, and I am to myself (I now know):

I don’t want to leave.