All the heroes are younger than me

I read a book yesterday
Where the main character
Has his whole life ahead of him
And he starts his career happily

That hero was younger than me

I remembered feeling similarly
I remembered moving towards
Accomplishing something that
I could be proud of eventually

In fact it seemed pretty recently
It wasn’t all that long ago
At least I don’t think so
Though I guess it is a lot of years

I watched a movie that night
Where the protagonist was worried
She thought that she was stuck
That precious years were being wasted

That hero was younger than me

She always imagined using these years
For something that was more fun
That there would be more accomplished
That anxiety swelled within her

I had thought ‘I partly remember this’
I had thought ‘I partly still live this’
I had thought it happens to everyone
It just hit me a little bit later

Today a friend told me about a show
Where the subject has ruined it all
He’s torn apart by the regret
Of never really finding what he wanted

That hero was younger than me

It seems a little silly to declare
That things are over at that point
After all, I’ve got plenty of time
And I’m much much older

I keep reading about the heroes
Because I’ve got plenty of time
I keep watching what the heroes do
Because I’ve got plenty of time
I keep listening to what the heroes say
Because I’ve got plenty of time

After all, I’m my own hero for this story
It would be boring if the hero didn’t do something

Later tonight I’m going to have a dream
About a man who’s sitting alone
He’s old and grey and his skin is blotchy
He’s smiling as he reads a book

He says “this hero is younger than me”
His voice is cracks from no use
He hasn’t talked to anyone in years
That doesn’t seem to bother him

He says he’ll have time later
He’ll do something someday
That people will want to hear
They’ll see his story and smile

Someday that will happen

When I wake up tomorrow morning
I’ll look at the man brushing his teeth
Across the sink from me and study
His face as closely as I can bear

After all it’s another lead role in a story
And I’ll compare that man I see and
I’ll hope that the subject in my slumber
I’ll hope that hero is older than me