Turning 40

a grey hair appeared at his temple
and he swore that his back hurt a bit
more, his neck was stiff and his bunion
was more prominent and painful.
he was scared of that big 4-0,
where everything was supposed to
be figured out, grown-up, where
he would know what he wanted
to be when he grew up, not realizing
most people don’t, anyway.
most people color their hair,
pluck their eyebrows, pump iron,
run their first triathlon, buy a Mini
Cooper or get a younger lover.
turning 40, isn’t it the new 30
just like 60 is the new 50, 70 is
the new 60, but everyone gets old
eventually, and
it’s ok.

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/alixs_cakes/3398369140/