42

Forty-two is here 
The meaning of life 
According to some 
(I know the reference 
But haven’t read the book) 

Forty-two but more 
Solar cycles ten-ish days longer 
Than soul guiding lunar ones 
Placing me somewhere 
Between forty-three and forty-four 

Six full regenerations 
Of seven-year itches 
Trying to escape 
The unwanted self 
Find greener grass 

Insignificant but not 
One year closer to the end 
One more gone of lost time 
Unreclaimable opportunities 
Half-death existence on life row 

Insignificant but unignorable 
Promise resisting doubt 
Filling the morning’s dew drops 
With let’s-start-nows 
And this-time-next-years 

The weight of evidence 
From history to trajectory 
Casts a shadow for sure 
But the sky is blue and the sun bright 
Hope steps up for a dance 

The story behind the poem

As can probably be guessed, I wrote this piece when I turned 42, so this postscript isn’t here to tell the story behind the poem – it is here to clarify that it isn’t my birthday today. I am just posting it now because this is what was on the slip that I pulled out of the envelope this morning for my Publish Everything Challenge. I am certainly not 42 anymore, either, but no one needs to know just how long ago this was written. No, no. This challenge might be all about the spirit of sharing, but I’ll keep that little detail to myself… 🙂