I have loved humanity.
I have been betrayed by humanity.
I have loved humanity more deeply
from knowing her cruelty.

There's darkness in the world I refused to accept as a child.

I feel old
in the evening
when the sun sets
when the rest of the world
     goes to bed.

I feel the gray
hairs sprouting and the wrinkles
carving themselves into my face.

I watch the smoothness
of my skin
dapple and splotch.

It was only a moment ago
I wondered if
I
would ever feel like
an adult.

How I have aged today
, this year
, the last