Past Versions

Trying to hold onto past versions of me
Nothing but undermining mutinies
Fond memories sometimes ease anxieties
But would-a should-a could-a-s
Gape as empty as the space between galaxies

Not always, but too frequently
Friends and family just don’t seem to notice…
See only the me that used to be

Perhaps some elements of an older rendition
Color, flavor, or infuse that old conditioning
Unconsciously directing this continually
Regenerating and aging version
Looking enough like me
To appear unchanged…

The same-ol’, same-ol’

But, it’s not to be…
Change being the only reality

–LE – 4/27/26