Better Now Than Then? br (stand naked in front of a full length mirror and try not to giggle or gag) br br We were then: br Small wiry bipeds on dry plains of Serengeti br Stringy, tight muscles, strong hands, with long slender fingers br Low, beetled brow over dark eyes, seeing distant br Long pointed nails, ridged and discolored, tip slender delicate digits br br We are now: br Tall upright bipeds, on dry, sere, parking lot at Walmart br Folds of flaccid fat, fallow, loose, hanging over belts br Squeaky-clean, sausage-like, weak, fat fingers br Skin stretched tight over pudgy, pillow-like hands br br We were then: br Hardy travelers, to distant mist shrouded mountains br Feet naked, soles hardened, over plains of rock, sand and gravel br Long slender bows, slung over lean shoulders and arrows in hide pouches, br Obsidian knives, tucked in scant leather loincloths br br We are now: br Overweight omnivores, driving air conditioned cars across heat-shimmered blacktop br Aching feet shod in spring-soled Nikes, Ipods and ear pods slung cross sallow chests br Cellphones esconced in synthetic leather, hung from belts, supporting extra large Dockers br Weak, myopic eyes, desperately scanning vast uncharted parking lot br In search of the always elusive parking space, nearer the doorsbr br David Whalenbr br