O World please let me grow old gracefully

What do you think world what do you see
What thoughts are you thinking when you look closely at me
A demented old man not very wise
So uncertain of habit with his faraway eyes

Who can't seem to do anything doesn't make a reply
When you say in a loud voice I do wish you would try
Who seems not to notice the things that are done
Forever losing his mind in this life as others seem to have fun

No longer resists let's everyone around him do as they will
With apathy surrounding him the long days to fill
Is this what your thinking, is this
what you see
Then open your eyes World your looking at me

I'll tell you all as I sit here so still
Allowed only to move at your bidding and breathe at your will
I'm a small child of ten given love from my father and mother
Brother and Sisters who have so much care and love for one
another

I was a young man of sixteen with spirit and the world at my feet
Dreaming that soon a love of my own I would meet
A bridegroom at twenty my heart gave such a leap
Remembering the vows I would promise to keep

At twenty-five we have children of our own
Who will need us to build them a secure loving home
Now I am a man of thirty my young grow so fast
Bound so close together with strong ties that will forever last

At forty our young ones have grown up and the home they have left
But my wife's their to comfort me so that I am not filled with
bereft
At fifty we have grandchildren playing around at our feet
Again we have children so loving so caring so sweet

But soon dark days befell me my loving wife has past away
Cant see any future with such sorrow no strength to get through each
lonely day
my sons and daughters are bringing up families of their own
But I still think back to the years and the love I had known

I am now an old man and nature has become so cruel
To mock and jest and make old age look like a fool
my body it crumbles, my vitality and strength depart
There is only mortar and stone where within their once was a
heart

But outside this mere mortal body a young man still dwells
Still now and again my embittered heart brightens and swells
I will hold dear the memories the joys of this life whilst trying to
close out the pain knowing the past I can never ever regain

Now as I think of the years all to few gone so fast
To accept the stark facts that nothing does last
So open your eyes world look closer and see
Not a demented old man just someone like me wishing to be left
contented peaceful and free