Age

I am 72 standing in the
Darkness alone backstage
Waiting for my next cue to go
Onto the stage to try entertaining
My audience while lecturing
On some piece of history,
I should be nervous
But my arrogance
Sustains me as
I tell stories to
Underline
Some too few
Historical truths to
Those who know
The same sort
Of lessons
I have
Learned:
Character trumps facade,
Kindness trumps meanness,
Forgiveness trumps revenge,
Humility trumps arrogance,
Even though I am guilty
Of far too many of
These traits I do
Not hesitate to
Admit my
Faults
And
Thus
By humility
Am forgiven by
The kindness of
My audience’s good
Character, the mercy of
Those sitting quietly
In judgement of me
As I try to give
Them a smile
Or a laugh
To ease
Their
Voyage.
I tell them what
I told my students,
I was an ignorant man,
I knew almost nothing
About almost every
Thing except a
Bit of history
Which I was
Sharing
Standing
On stage alone,
In most cases
Before my
Betters,
I
Am
Too
Foolish
To be scared
In an age of
Too much
Data and
Too little
Truth.