How Far

My capacity for anger seems dead to me

At any rate  it has dulled

Considerably

When I was young

Like most everyone

I got fired up very quickly

Little things

Things that I forget

practically the very next minute

Mattered much to me

But, now that I'm middle-aged

My priorities have changed

What affected me immensely at one stage

Causes merely a ripple

Or a shrug

Or nothing at all in me

When I hear anyone rant and rave

Say or behave in what I'd call a petty way

It grates

It really does!

It's then that I begin to reflect

How far my boundaries have changed.

The Dopes

I don't smoke

It's unhealthy

I don't gamble

The odds are stacked against me

I mean

Take the lottery

One has only a one in zillion chance of winning

The promoters don't intend you to win

And win - you definitely won't!

But, punters live in hope

And, will gladly part with their money

The dopes!