I am still
a competent man
I am
yet
able
show me a thing
that I
once did
I will do it over
again
I will do it smarter
again
I have not lost
my wit or
my ken
I believe myself
a magnitude
wiser
but . . .
one thing
is two
then
add on another
stir
stir
and stir them all well
I grow lost . . .
dis-orientated
among the swirling colours
that they are
grow hesitant
to choose among
to touch
to test or
to believe
in my own knowledge
in myself
the way
I ought to
and need to
and
once upon a time
I used to
the world moves
too fast for me
now
and I
am much slower
I feel my heart
beating hard
and loud
as though
freshly frightened
or somehow
startled
and I know
that I have been
no event comes to me
alone
any more
no
they throng
and
clamour
I am old
bent
at the waist
and stooping
(just a little)
I can do
anything
almost
everything
I ever could
if first
I can
swallow
the small heartbeat
of my own fear
~
I believe this is the one most of us can relate too. I could see a little of me in that, and still love it
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We of a certain age, Claire.
The days that overwhelm I can certainly do without!
Poor me!
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Growing older is not for the faint hearted, Frank. My dad is currently unwell and has to learn he can’t do some of the things he used to do.
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It certainly is not, Robbie. On bad days with too much to process, growing old is little more than rubbish, I reckon.
Ah well, that’s why contemplation and poetry are such wonderful pastimes, I suppose.
My best wishes to your dad. I hope he finds the place where older age hums, as it should.
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You’re so good at this, Frank. The writing. The naming.
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Cheers, Tracy. I enjoy naming the pieces. Letting the name be suggested by the written content.
Great fun.
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I meant naming the emotion, but that relates to your title too so it also fits. 🙂
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LOL at me. Thank you, Tracy. That’s a wonderful compliment. 🙂
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You’re welcome, Frank. The more I read your work, the more I like it.
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Don’t remind me, Frank. Oh, spot on for many of us, by the way 🙂
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Cheers, Derrick. A disconcerting status change (in my case). Definitely demands a thoughtful response (like stepping toward retirement from the workforce I’ve always been part of).
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That is a big one, especially given your following your parents
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Fortunately, I’m quite eager to further develop other skills and directions, so it can’t come quick enough. I have too much to do to be wasting my time at work . . .
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🙂 Excellent
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I feel that small heartbeat in my throat from time to time as the world moves by much too fast.
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Disconcerting at times, but also helps make some decisions – such as when to step away from some elements of the working life.
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I haven’t reached the stepping away point yet. Time will tell, I suppose.
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I’m ready to go forward with my own projects and schemes, Liz. Weary of doing it all for others. I’m very nearly ready.
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I feel exactly the same way about wanting to work on my own projects and give up ongoing exercises in futility for others. At the moment, however, guilt reigns supreme.
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Comes to us all if we’re lucky
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Yes, it is better than the alternative, I think.
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Beautiful poem
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