Heyday

You know those emails 
that begin with Hey— 
Hey what did I miss
when I wasn't in class 
      the other day?

I learned hey (or hei, 
or hai) in the middle ages was 
a shout of encouragement
to hunting
      dogs.

That made me wonder: 
was I ever sharp as
a hunting dog, 
back in my 
      own heyday?

When people say
heydey they usually mean
back in the time you were
in the state of 
     greatest vigor 

or when you were younger
and at your freshest,
smartest, most 
scintillating best.
     As if youth—

that knockout, 
six-pack, smasher—  
were all you needed
to walk into a room
     and claim it.

I didn't even think I had
a brain back then. But hey, 
I've earned some mileage, 
and love that now I can say  
    yeah, I know some shit.