An Old Man  ~ Cavafy

In the inner room of the noisy café
an old man sits bent over a table;
a newspaper before him, no companion beside him.

And in the scorn of his miserable old age
he meditates how little he enjoyed the years
when he had strength, the power of the word, and good looks.

He knows he has aged much; he feels it, he sees it.
And yet the time he was young seems
like yesterday. How short a time, how short a time.

And he ponders how Wisdom deceived him;
and how he always trusted her — what a folly! —
that liar who said: “Tomorrow. There is ample time.”

He remembers the impulses he curbed; and how much
joy he sacrificed. Every lost chance
now mocks his senseless wisdom.

…But from so much thinking and remembering
the old man gets dizzy. And falls asleep
bent over the café table.

Tired 
by Carl Josehart

Tomorrow I will be strong
not today
today I need to be weak
and slow
and lazy
and maybe a little irresponsible

Tomorrow I will fight
not today
today I need to submit
and let the world choose its direction
even if it meanders off course
detours from the desired destination

Tomorrow I will rise
not today
today I need to fall
and stay down
not forever
just long enough to rest

Tomorrow I will carry the weight of the world
not today
today I need to lay the burden down
today I need to be carried
not far
just far enough so see the horizon

Yesterday I was strong
tomorrow I will renew
and today
today is for rest
today is for release
and to sleep and perchance to dream of strength renewed

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