15 December 2013 I was so much older then

Cassi Creek:

 I spent a lot of time in my youth wishing I were older.  I was not alone in that practice.  Nearly everyone I knew was doing the same thing.  We all thought, or seemed to, that adding a few years would solve many of our problems. 

          The passing of a few years left me physically older and mentally ancient.  It was very common to hear troops in VietNam proclaim, “I’m too old for this shit!”  As physically young men, they were most sincere in their resentment of the risks they faced on a daily basis that twisted and tore at them internally until they were mentally centenarians.  The changes could occur over time or in a matter of minutes.  They saw and did things that bled any remaining youth from them. 

          21years ago I got some of those lost years back; in a fashion, and with some help.  Life can screw with us in a manner we never expect.

          Now I find my mind tacking in one direction while my body adds a new set of challenges, forcing me down a different pathway.  See above, life can screw with us…

          Now, instead of muttering,” I’m too old for this shit!” I find myself proclaiming, “I’m too young for this shit!”  Guess Dylan penned”My Back Pages” for more than just himself.

Crimson flames tied through my ears
Rollin’ high and mighty traps
Pounced with fire on flaming roads
Using ideas as my maps
“We’ll meet on edges, soon,” said I
Proud ’neath heated brow
Ah, but I was so much older then
I’m younger than that now

Half-wracked prejudice leaped forth
“Rip down all hate,” I screamed
Lies that life is black and white
Spoke from my skull. I dreamed
Romantic facts of musketeers
Foundationed deep, somehow
Ah, but I was so much older then
I’m younger than that now

Girls’ faces formed the forward path
From phony jealousy
To memorizing politics
Of ancient history
Flung down by corpse evangelists
Unthought of, though, somehow
Ah, but I was so much older then

I’m younger than that now

A self-ordained professor’s tongue
Too serious to fool
Spouted out that liberty
Is just equality in school
“Equality,” I spoke the word
As if a wedding vow
Ah, but I was so much older then
I’m younger than that now

In a soldier’s stance, I aimed my hand
At the mongrel dogs who teach
Fearing not that I’d become my enemy
In the instant that I preach
My pathway led by confusion boats
Mutiny from stern to bow
Ah, but I was so much older then
I’m younger than that now

Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats
Too noble to neglect
Deceived me into thinking
I had something to protect
Good and bad, I define these terms
Quite clear, no doubt, somehow
Ah, but I was so much older then
I’m younger than that now

Copyright © 1964 by Warner Bros. Inc.; renewed 1992 by Special Rider Music

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