and
the old one is ending.
and
the new one is beginning.
i do not celebrate.
i do not even stay up for the ending and beginning:
i pay no attention;
for i am past beginnings and endings;
i have been there, done that
more times than i wish to count
if i could count that high,
and
the beginning of the end
is getting
too damn close to ending,
so i would just as soon
not think about that beginning
but
oh, i do;
oh, i do
wish i could spend more time
with others in their beginnings and endings,
with others where we might revise
the endings
and
find beginnings with a different ending,
but
there is not enough time;
no, not enough time
for new beginnings of old endings
because
the beginnings of the ends
are too near.

i have seen it.
what?
others beginning their endings,
even the actual end,
noticing there are several ways
to choose
how to end it,
and
it seems it does not matter
except to end it
with acceptance, dignity, and peace,
acceptance of it will be what it will be
and
acceptance of
what has begun and ended
was meant to be,
and
i can control only
how i handle the beginning of the end
and
the end itself,
and
i am at peace with that
because
even though i have sometimes failed,
i have always tried
to do what’s right.
peace
and,
i hope,
dignity.
time will not blink, mister Warren;
time will continue to create
endings and beginnings;
so
in the spirit of an old mariner
full speed ahead;
damn beginnings and endings.