When growing old you know the wisest thing
is to sit still and listen to the call
of Socrates who said he knew sod all,
after a lifetime's argybargying.
"An aged man is but a paltry thing"
said Irish Bill, "a scarecrow on a stick".
The syllogism that if old, you're thick
is back in fashion. Bill says "learn to sing".
To be thought wise you've got to be the age
to work the Stock exchange and rage and shout
driving with one hand, phoning with the other.
You'll not get credit nowadays as sage
unless the 'meeja' know what you're about.
The old find just remembering's too much bother...
-William Neill
(published in Poetry Scotland 1997)
