The Coming of Age

Creeping like those cats with
three-inch long legs,
It steals upon you
in a whisper.
One day
You are
As always.
The next,
Your reflection
Reflects that
Your time is
shortening
— and not the good kind of shortening —

You look into your own eyes,
observe the lines
that life has drawn,
and think,

“Well,

all right then.”