Chuck Perrin

I’m proud to wear the years

on my face & body

I played by my own rules

& made it this far

I didn’t take the downhill path

I learned, instead

to trust my instincts

to listen & respond & live

in real time

& make choices based on

my own experience

it’s true, love burned the ground

around me once or twice

but somehow I

always found my way

in the process I discovered

the sublime subtleties of existence

the grasp

that makes all the difference

you have to work a lifetime

to get here

& I did

I’m proud to wear the years