Old age versus youth

** old age versus youth **
Old age never seems that way
From inside the vessel ageing
Sure the joints do creak
And cracks and chips distinct
Mind and attitude are still
As mind and attitude ever were
Young and fresh and active
The unevenness of breath
Aches perpetual which dog
Added lines and folds
Have not impaired
The mental working of this form
I am as sharp ever I was
In younger days if not more so
For I can leverage experience
To make my intelligence seem genius
Track the issues as they appear
Recall the errors of past years
Rather than create fresh disaster
Direct the course to better success
And so dogged by age
The old dog still has old tricks
With which his life to wage
Less energy and more cunning
To overtake the fleet of foot
Those always unsuspecting youth.