Bearing in mind I didn't request it
but as a baby I had no choice,
very soon I was pleased to accept it.

Starting with infant exploration
life was a fairground experience
sampling all kinds of jollification.

Life got more serious as I got older
with all the confusion of teenage years
creating the need for somebody's shoulder.

Steadied at last by someone who loved me
and settling down to a married life,
I then had to value someone above me.

And helping a baby grow to a person
created a new perspective on life
reducing still more my residual ego.

As old age advances I'm still in some doubt
as to whether I've made the most of my life
and still none too clear as to what it's about.

Although never rich I was not at all poor,
not badly disabled, quite sane and quite healthy
and glad I avoided fighting in war.

But looking back there were often mistakes,
doubtful decisions, missed opportunities,
misunderstandings and heartache that makes

me sometimes regret not doing enough
to disentangle desire from duty
and harmonise natural lust with real love.

Once born is there really a reason for living
beside avoiding discomfort and pain?
We want to be happy but maybe it's giving

it earns satisfaction promoting self worth.
More spectator than player I'm still undecided
how much I have made of my life since my birth.

So how would I rate it? Perhaps six out of ten
since overall it was quite an adventure -
but I don't think I'll bother again.