I FLY BACKWARDS ON THE BODY OF A HUMMINGBIRD
I turn the story of my life upside down and inside out.
It retires me from worldly woes, inspires me
with words of wisdom, and prepares me for the end.
I shed my share of tears and licked my wounds
from all those years in the muck and mire of cupidity.
I won a skirmish or two, but lost a few that left me black and blue.
Now I must gather branches for my funeral pyre.
I worked so hard, loved so hard—was it all for naught?
Why am I not as enraptured as my 3-year-old grandchild?
No matter what game we play, he always exclaims with glee, I win!
No bells will ring for me—I never made a headline,
but I’ll take a bow anyway, knowing my loved ones
will always be standing, yelling, bravo, bravissimo!