I’d love to think that age has had no effect on my mind
But every day, unmistakable signs of aging I find…
*
One of the most distressing signs of aging for me
Is my dwindling patience and increasing inability
To read long books-despite being a reader prolific
To shorter, up to 300 pages long books I now try to stick
In the past I used to dive without hesitation
Into thousand-page long books, but now I am filled with trepidation
Each time I encounter a thick, wordy book
For larger print and thinner spines I now look
*
Wistfully I remember the days when “War and Peace” seemed
Appropriately long for a transcontinental trip, I would have deemed
Anything shorter inadequate for a journey that was long
I was a fast reader, my ability to pay attention was strong
These days I feel accomplished if I can focus my attention
On a book beyond half an hour, despite my best intentions
*
One of the most anticipated books of this year
I have selected from the library, but I fear
At 400 pages in fine print, it would be
Challenging to read cover to cover for me..
But having penned this verse, the least I can do
Is read a book similar in length to those I used to
Passion...unbridled 
Thank you for this! Three hundred fifty is about my limit. For the longest time, I held onto ‘The Goldfinch.’ But at close to 800 pages, I finally placed in the donation box. I just could not see myself reading that much for that long.
LikeLike