Age concern

You set off just before me
after you switched on the birthday lights
and I chased you in my new Dunlops
hunted you down, like a poacher would
unaware of how rare you would become
unaware there were others doing the same

And when the dead lions had been caught
the musical chairs all put away
when you tired
and I got bored 
with your ivory prizes wrapped in skins
you came running for me
through wrinkle-filled mirrors and kid policeman
and you leapt over canyons once streams
fitter than I ever was
shoving another candle in my cake
as if it was only yesterday