getting older

Just nap for an hour
the mother said
an hour and then you can play.
An hour! An hour!
the child cried
it might as well be a day.

Just wait another month
the father said
A month and then you can drive.
A month! A month!
said the teen
it might as well be five.

Just another year
the professor said
a year and you'll have your degree.
A year! A year!
the youth sighed
it might be the end of me.

Forever
the man said
forever I'll be with you.
Forever! Forever!
the woman smiled
that's long enough if its true.

A lifetime
the grandmother crooned
A lifetime is yours now to spend
A lifetime! A lifetime.
Which is not very long in the end.

mnb