Fell over the dog the other night
Sitting behind me on the floor, quietly.
I had no idea he was there
And fell mostly to protect him.

The aging protecting the aged
Didn't land hard but enough to
Bring back the old familiar
Reminder of truth and death.

Having passed the point where
We can be made new again,
Each loss is a gain of sorts,
A permission to let go and be.

Coming to peace with "I can't,"
Is the greatest gift of aging.
In it we learn what was
Really important all along.