CLASSIFICATION

" 'It's a lot better now,'
said Michael Dragen, 32,
a sales executive,"
commenting on something to a newspaper reporter.
Reading the article,
I find myself wondering as usual
why newspapers find one's age so compelling.
Do I really need to know
Michael Dragen's age
in order to assess his comment?
Would I hear him any differently
if he were 52?  72?
Is his age any more relevant than
Michael Dragen, 5'9" with brown eyes?
Or how about
Michael Dragen, college graduate (or not)?
Perhaps it's more important to know
that Michael Dragen is an easy-going guy.
Or Michael Dragen, SUV-owner with two kids.
Or Michael Dragen, who drinks Irish whisky.
I have resisted age classification
for my entire adult life.
I won't be judged
or dismissed
because I'm too young or too old.
Here lies Ellen Azorin,
who never looked her age,
or told.


© Ellen Azorin