by Julia Griffin

“The scientists found that human aging does not happen in a gradual, linear way. Rather, the majority
of the molecules they studied showed accelerated, non-linear changes at the ages of 44 and 60.”
—CNN

Till I was forty-four years old, my molecules
Were youthful; ditto for my tresses’ folecules;
And then, with no forewarning or compunction,
Both started mitochondrial dysfunction.
I started graying and I started aging,
With damaged DNA and autophaging;
And then it all went quiet, till last autumn:
Time’s germs are loose, and now again I’ve caught ’em.
This year, to grow non-linearly older
Means less to grey and rather more to molder,
With age’s agents’ frightful inundation:
Beware spontaneous deamination!
What’s the next milestone? Science seems divided.
I’d hate to go before my time’s decided.