Pacifier

I am not old
but I am older
It counts a bit 
(or it should)

I have been and done a thing
or two
you have either never been
done wrong or
have not yet been or done

I have some answers and
have decided to live within
some unanswered questions

I have some regrets and some success
(and some success I regret)

I am sometimes not at my best anymore
but in some things I am still
a good goddamn sight better
than other people are

all this to say
your ignoring me
and patronizing me
and laughing at me
and being cavalier with me

leads me to decide that your professed respect
for me
is of no value

Your application of
the elder statesman label to me
is your idea of a second childhood’s pacifier

I can tell you see a cartoon
and not a person
when you look at me

Please therefore remember this
for a time coming soon
You’ll need it
but then again
you will probably write it again yourself
and call it an original