Drying Up Poem by Daniel Trevelyn Joseph

Saw this youngster with shirt tucked in
Neat stomach, no sign of a paunch
Made me feel how nice to be youngster
And lean and strong.

Wife is very concerned about her weight
And shape and everything about her
And on the road I see many young women
Looking fabulous at least in my eyes!

I dont remember looking at women
When I was young.
Now it is different: every young woman
Fair, and cheerful draws my attention.

I keep wondering a la John Donne
Was I not weaned that such beauty and shape
Did not draw my eyes out then:
Every plant grows and dries up in time.

The Old Testament passage about their being a Season
For everything is very, very true.
It is a pity I spoiled the tradition
And did not induct wife and daughter
Into reading the Bible regularly.