Tuesday, August 4, 2015

The Five Boons of Life V

CHAPTER FIVE

The fairy came, bringing again four of the gifts 
but Death was wanting.  She said:
"I gave it to a mother's pet, a little child.  It was
ignorant, but trusted me, asking me to choose for
it.  You did not ask me to choose."
"Oh, miserable me!  What is there left for me?"
"What not even you have deserved:  the wanton
insult of Old Age."

Word of the day: wanton

4 comments:

Vee said...

"Wisdom is with aged men, With long life is understanding.

The idea that death is preferable to old age is a commonly held idea in humanistic societies - but, of course, that would be death for others, not for self.

vanilla said...

Vee, like the quote. Plenty of youngsters would like for their elders to shuffle off to wherever it is they shuffle off to, it seems. But few want to go when they "get there."

Secondary Roads said...

It's a system based on seniority. The survivors reward is the "insult of old age."

vanilla said...

Chuck, old age has its drawbacks, but I don't feel "insulted." Blessed, actually.