Acceptance Speech

Accept the things you cannot change: the bleating clock, the nightly go —dog leash in tow— around the block,

neural chemistry, patchy hair, a longing stare and X-ray eye,

and the niggling fact that things will stay roughly this way, to be exact.

Forgive the things you cannot have: the supple bod, taut undergrads, a nicer pad, long chats with God,

an older name, your peers’ respect, ...