Did you read the rest? Would you really rather not have what you have now and be young again?
That question is strange for me. For example IF I was 17 I would still live at home and NOTHANKYOU as my friends four year old likes to say. If I was 17 other people would have the right to control me. I wouldn’t be allowed to vote, or have an unlimited drivers license in my city. I wouldn’t be able to rent cars or buy alcohol.
You can’t “have what you have now, except high school age.”. One of the things you have, is age and the many privileges thAt come with it.
And I’m in the camp of "anyone who thinks HS was the best, has definitely had a sad life. Being an adult kicks the ass of being a kid in every possible way. BTW, I had a great time in high school.
Thanks for the replies so far, everyone. It looks like you guys are saying the kinds of things I was hoping/expecting readers to get out of it, so that’s good. (I posted it here because on another forum people were complaining that the last line makes no sense in the context of the other lines. I decided to go for a second opinion before making any changes, because the line feels right to me.)
Man people are grumpy! Do you live at home now? Do other people have the right to control you now? Can you vote, do you have an unlimited license, can you rent a car or buy alcohol now? Do you know what having all you have now means?
I’m confused. You were asking if I would want everything I have now, except young. My point is, you can’t have everything else, except young. One of the things, is age. Not trying to be grumpy!
Well, those other people are idiots. It’s pitch-perfect.
I think you must still be fairly young. Everybody can see life differently, but IMHO if you don’t treasure youth more as you age, you aren’t learning much on the way. (and ignore the grumpy comment, I’m grumpier than the whole lot of you, except maybe Exapno).
Agreed. What kind of people can’t get the basic idea of that piece?
It’s this place where, a few years ago, I could count on decent criticism from actual poets. (Like as in, published etc.) But things seem different now… lots of people complimenting what seems to me to be clearly bad poetry. (Not that I’m a great judge but, I guess I do have opinions…)
Too bad!
Nobody’s grumpier than Exapno! That’s one of the best parts about aging.
HelloAgain has it right. You can’t have what you have now, plus be young. It’s not even a wish. Age is better than youth.
I meant that as a compliment. You have elevated grumpiness to an art form.
Yeah, there’s no ambiguity what it means. For me, it skirts the edge of being just a bit too heavy-handed, but I kind of like the “punchline” effect it has and the dark humor in it.
Believe me, I am going to repeat this to my loving and patient and sorely afflicted wife.
Oh man, don’t say high school is as good as it gets. That’s a really dangerous statement. A whole lot of kids have a truly abysmal time in high school.
I have one of those. Jewelry helps.
I laughed too, for exactly the reason Heart of Dorkness gave. (I hope that was your intention, Frylock.)
I thought the poem was funny, too. Like a poster for a lost dog:
LOST DOG
Description: three legs, broken tail, one eye, mange. Answers to “Lucky”.