It’s Open Link at dVerse
Time for a little introspection.
Submitted to Open Link 196
May, 2017
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It’s wonderful to be older,
And oh, so very wise
…but I observe I have acquired
some bags beneath my eyes.
My years of diligent labor
Have made me efficient about the house
…but now, when I look in the mirror
my knees appear to blouse.
After all my years of practice,
I know quite the proper thing to say
…but I note on close inspection,
my hair is turning gray.
Seniority has its privileges
Of travel beneath foreign flags
…but, when I check my silhouette,
I believe my bottom sags.
When youth defers to me,
I think it’s really sweet
…but along with that, it’s sad to see
my skin’s begun to pleat.
I’m now loaded with self-confidence
When before a group I speak
…but, as I leave the podium,
I hear my joints begin to creak.
Yes, aging has its privileges
And all in all they’re not so bad
…but they would really please me
with that youthful body I had.
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A blog for the midnight epiphanies and idle thoughts of a hopeless wordaholic.
wonderful to be older, indeed :)
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying being older! I can misbehave if I want to and nobody seems to mind! :)
ReplyDeleteHa ha. Nice. :)
DeleteI'd like to have my cake and eat it, please.
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful... and especially I like your poem paired with Grace's you seemed to be thinking along similar lines... almost like you were writing to the same prompt.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It would be wonderful to have the wisdom and privilege of age with the body and health of youth. But if I had to choose, I'd rather have the former.
ReplyDeleteThis is precious! What else can you do but find humor in it all? Life feels like one big prank sometimes. We have to giggle over it once in a while.
ReplyDeleteLove the humour in it... a good way to take stock!
ReplyDeleteLoved this piece. So many truths.
ReplyDeleteThis is great. I love how you do the positives and then have the "body" summing it up.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, and the only cure for growing older is dying young. To age gracefully is both task and commitment.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, there is no absolute that older age means becoming physically compromised. What we believe is what we are likely to become.
The fine line is between facing realities and managing fantasies.
I think aging is a physical and mental state of mind. The important thing is to enjoy life! It's good that you have a great sense of humor!
ReplyDeleteCute -- great humor
ReplyDeleteSometimes hard to find the positives. Thanks for the chuckle.
ReplyDeleteBoth wisdom and humor in the conundrums of getting older, which is a mixed blessing :)
ReplyDeleteThe line "When youth defers to me" reminded me of a trip to Indiana recently visiting an aging Aunt in the hospital. On the way back I passed a White Castle and stopped since I hadn't been to one of these places in decades. After ordering the very young person at the counter gave me a bill that was lower that I though it should be. Checking the receipt she gave me the senior discount I didn't know existed without even asking me how old I was. I thought it was rather cute how "youth defers to me".
ReplyDeleteLove the wisdom and humor in this. I always thought I'd fight aging every step of the way, but the older I get the less I'm bothered by it. :)
ReplyDeleteThere is ageing and then there is ageing...one road consists of feeling old and acting old...the other is the one you took ;)Stay on it Bev.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant, Beverley! Such a witty and enjoyable poem. You say so much and I love the note of humour present in your observations. So good :)
ReplyDeleteI think it's just gravity, Beverly. I think gravity has been increasing on us, pulling us all down. Seriously, I really liked the humor. It's always great to have some fun, (of course for us 6:00 p.m. is a late night, lol)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your poem, Bev. I can relate. I admire the ladies who have lots of fun in their senior years, no matter what transpires, a good example for me. I tend to bemoan the fact I can't do the things I would like to anymore; I miss those legs of my youth!!!
ReplyDeleteVery enjoyable. Being a senior is an experience.I sense from this poem we had a fullness to add a richness to this time.
ReplyDelete