Expectancy at birth in eighteen-ninety,
Was only forty years in every land,
Exceeding Paleo hunters only slightly,
Eight thousand years without a gain in hand.
Our age of death these days is almost eighty
Its thanks to water, sewers and clean air,
to vaccinations, drugs, and complex surgery,
Less accidents, and doctors everywhere.
Yet, recently our age of life is falling.
Too many folks with sickness to pay for,
Less exercise, worse diet, dope, and killing,
Drugs failing; and vaccines that some ignore.
Long life can be idyllic or be sad,
In old age have good health; avoid the bad!