Fresh and Young

[Achebe]

Fresh and Young
 
Moment to moment,
this old heart must decide,
if it is worth the effort,
to gather the energy,
for one more beat,
too keep this body alive.
 
I see young children play  
and I think I would not mind
having some of that energy— ...the above three lines are the weakest in the poem, particularly "and I think I would not mind" - it's both blandly phrased and not particularly insightful: most people "wouldn't mind" being a child again. I think it'd be better to start S2 with "Some of my peers"
age and wisdom are highly over-rated—.
Some of my peers rail and jeer
at the young girls dressed so skimpily.
"It should be banned," they say,
but they only talk that way
because they would like to partake.
 
Do not be deceived by the old
with skin reptilian dry
and kisses of Death's cold.
Given half a chance
they would take your youthful warmth  
leaving you a worthless husk to fill their place.
So do not come too close,
do not let your heart feel
sorrow for these "oldlings".
 
They have, had their one chance at life
and used it for good or ill,
but I will tell you a secret;
each and everyone of them has one regret.
It burns them and the burning is never done.
They burn to trade the used life they have
for one still fresh and young.   
 
erthona
 
©2016

Hi dale - particularly liked the ending. Might be a good idea to trim the rest, though.