“Don’t Look Back, Something Might Be Gaining On You”—Satchel Paige

Hey, bony man In the hoodie, quit swinging that scythe so close to me. Or is that not the disguise you’ll use to take me when you turn in my direction? Will you come instead as a siren, soft, voluptuous, deadly, wooing me into your arms for the strike? Or as a harpy, gaunt-faced, talon-fingered, shrieking for my blood? Maybe as a mendicant, a blind beggar full of vengeful fury as I compassionately approach you? But you will come and I will know you and I will flee or fight. I will not go gentle, mad monk of death, I will not go gentle.* *Apologies to Dylan Thomas, from whom I borrowed this phrase,