The first time I read Mrs. Dalloway I was quite young, 21 maybe.
And I was struck by her age, 51, and how old that seemed to me.
Now I read Mrs. Dalloway and I am struck, the way Big Ben might strike,
by how much time can make an easy turn in point of view,
how 51 now seems to me so young.
Clarissa, please, you still have so much time to go,
when at 51 you’re still so very far away from old,
and as your senior by 16 years, I can tell you, never fear,
for you will be the tender age of 51 until time ends,
your history stopped, the clock struck young forevermore.
Lanning Lee 