poem of the day 08.14.13

stressed

the young women are hugging

because young women hug

when they haven’t seen each other in a few days

she says i’m leaving on friday

and the other ones eyes bug out

so soon? she says

because i think i’m funny

and think that i can still relate to the youth

i tell the departing girl

hey, you can have my job and i’ll go to college for you

no way, she says

you looked so stressed all of the time

i’m not stressed,  i tell her

you could’ve fooled me

then the young women go back to talking about college

and the things of being young

while i sit there stewing in my gray, aged malaise

with my constant headaches and sour stomach

the neck and back pinches

the constant worries about jobs and bills

trying to convince myself through another bout of heartburn

that i’m not stressed

that feeling like this is normal

and one day those smiling young women will see

but really

i hope that they never feel this way

i hope it’s laughter and hugging and wide-eyed illusions

until they reach the grave

thinking that despite myself

there may be some hope for humanity yet.