Minding the Gap

I run up and down stairs every morning now,
ten times.

This is not, as you frequently joke, because I have forgotton something.
Though now I think of it,
you are right,
I have forgotten
to stay young.

I am making a late entry in the backwards time race.

Please live with my delusion
I accept
that there can be no surface change
My body is just
trying to close the gap
I am running to meet the ten year old inside me.

I mind the gap.

Carefully
I monitor the discrepancy
between outside
and in.