The Magic Sack

 
When the earth was still young, 
a young god sat on a rock ,
 spitting obscenities into the wind.  
One day an old god hobbled by, 
a sack slung over his shoulder. 
 
Hey, old one, spat the young god,why are you so ugly?
 
Age is not a beautiful thing, replied the old god.
You will see soon enough.
 
I could never be as ugly as you,  snapped the young god.
Instead of carrying that sack, you should wear it over your head.
What is in it anyway? 
 
My lost youth, the old god answered. 
 
What nonsense, replied the young god,
 and she snatched the sack and opened it.  
 
The old god's lost youth jumped out and swallowed the young
god whole, and when he spewed her out again, 
she was an old woman, gnarled and wrinkled 
like the knot on an ancient tree, 
crying salt tears for her own lost youth. 
 
And that is how it is possible to waste one's youth in anger
and spend one's old age in regret.
  
 

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