This is a tough question.

Am looking for a poem about middle age.
I cannot remember any of the exact wording
or the author.


But it goes something like this...


"When a man turns 40,
he starts gently closing doors
to rooms be knows he will
never return to again..."


Sorry I can't be more specific.
Any help or comments greatly appreciated!

I haven't found the poem yet, but I found a Web site with lots of
stuff on the subject of turning 40:

http://www.turning40.com/

On my fiftieth birthday, I was given two wonderful collections of
poetry about aging: "When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple" and
"If I Had My Life to Live Over I Would Pick More Daisies." I'm going
to browse through these to see whether anything jumps out at me. These
anthologies primarily contain material by and about women, but it may
be worth a look. If I don't find the right poem, at least I will enjoy
myself rereading some good stuff.

Thank You !!!!

DEFINITELY check out those two books mentioned by PinkFreud.  They are
both delights!  Of late, I find myself buying more and more purple...
:)

Thanks, Journalist!  Just ordered from www.amazon.com

Regarding the phrase "When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple,"
this thought occurred to me...

As I look in dismay at my varicose veins, I realize that some of us
are wearing purple even when we are unclothed. ;-)

PinkFreud, I know what you mean!
At my age, I don't even take off my clothes any more.
heh  heh  heh

I have come across a poignant poem entitled "Portrait of a Man at
Forty." I'm sure this is NOT your poem (no gently closing doors here,)
but I thought it might interest you.

http://parallel.park.uga.edu/~stillpnt/1996/59.html

PinkFreud---wow.  Evocative.  Absolutely terrific.  Thank you, as always.