Some people are under-prepared

Some people are under-prepared

Perhaps they were caught unawares

Before their due date

When the body was still evolving

Undetermined by the passage of time

Fresh-faced and full-mouthed

Before the defining characteristics

Became elongated ears

And a bulbous nose

The impact of alcohol

Seen in broken blood vessels

Describing more a pattern of reckless behaviour

Than a road map

To enlightenment.

The skull more prominent than shapely

The flesh, less well hung

Draped loosely, more ill-fitting

Than roomy.

The older we get

The more we resemble

The skeleton we become

After all, it has always been there

Holding things up

Awaiting its reveal.

Is it any wonder when we are tired

We feel it in our bones

They will be all that is left

When all else is done

Until they too are returned to dust.

So much for individuality

Skeletons look much the same

To the naked eye.

It takes very little to disguise

Their similarity

For a short while.

Until gravity has its way

With the weight of our experience

And steals away the angles.

Dragging everything down

To its own level,

Back into the ground

And mother earth

Where we all finally lie still, long enough

To resemble one another.

It should come as no surprise

So many are unprepared

To say goodbye

And would prefer to sip another nightcap,

Share a reminiscence

Even outstay their welcome, than to brave

A long cold journey home

On their own,

In total darkness.