Old Life In New Times

 A wise man adapts himself to circumstances, as water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it. – Chinese Proverb

You go to bed 

and in the morning 
get up 

and see 

everything changed 
around. 

It’s been rearranged, 
in the night. 

All of it. 

That’s 
the deal 

for every living one 
of us. 

I’m certain 
it’s beautiful, 

I’m certain 
it’s ineluctable. 

I’m even convinced 
it’s the expression 
of genius 
on the job. 

Genius! 

But for me, 
it’s spooky, 
unbearable, 
incoherent, 

theft. 

Life’s 
a war zone. 

Death’s 
the sanctuary. 

You want 
to be safe? 

Or 
in unspeakable 
dis­array? 

These 
are the bleatings 
of an old man 

who just seeks 
to get older 

and be left alone 

while he’s trying 
to do it.





Words from 82-year-old Gordon Lish in the Paris Review.