Senescence

The science of the self
The relentless chemical reactions,
cell death and rebirth,
digestion, peristalsis and
respiration.
The chemistry of turning food to energy.

And what of the non-physical self
what changes there?
So subtle, immeasurable even,
But over the course of a lifetime
those changes, minute though they are,
Add up and
Can be shown by the crooks and furrows
Shadows, chiaroscuro,
Atrophy and tone of our
facial muscles teeth hair hands skin ears
Lose elasticity, change color
Develop a cauliflower immovability, a stoop, a staunchness.
Alas a weariness.
We seem to wear the earth
Becoming the earth's twin or a
Reflection of the earth's timelessness.