When in the company of the world-weary
			Elderly, with faces and natures like prunes,
Then home truths and public embarrassments,
			Past tense and present, like persistent old tunes,
Batter and bruise the delicate beliefs,
			Deceits, conceits and prevarications of Youth.
Bitter and ossified as the years leave them,
			Even the mildest will lecture on truth,
Beauty and the work ethic as though dead.
			This said, I had no excuses, though my heart bled.

But in the next brave world which we create, Lord,
			Let's arrange to schedule old age first,
Trusting the wisdom and experience Youth ignored
			To temper the vigour Old Age cursed.