Stage Four Tomorrow Poem by Barry Middleton

Stage four tells me my time is limited.
It brings regret
that I did not inhale more deeply,
did not relish every moment of stage three.

Along with age, stage four asks a question;
whatever happened to stage two?
It passed me by like a bottle rocket,
fast but short, and in the end a minor poof.

I have completely forgotten stage one;
but there was fire and laughter.
I'm not sure what the joke was;
it is now a word cloud of lost voices.

Stage four makes me aware of mistakes;
tears fall for missed opportunity.
Even sleep can hold no dream;
there are so few tomorrows.