Tag Archives: age
Journey
Roads are aimless empty things,
long faces, bones cradled in disused flesh,
driven too long, seeing too much,
leaving more behind than ahead;
for a liberty or salvation unrequited.
Forgetting the acceptance they once resided in,
when they inspired conversations,
played lead on a stage of dreams,
where they lived,
in time that was short but warm;
familiar like a street.
Leaning in the Corner at a Dance Recital
I’m not sure now why it didn’t break,
beneath the days – turned years – turned decades,
beneath three children, four grandkids,
beneath a 50 year marriage that almost ended twice,
beneath two tours in foreign nations,
beneath coffins filled with pieces of his heart,
peppered here and there while he lived on.
Beneath countless bouts with viruses,
an embarrassing number of hangovers,
and one exchange with polio.
Beneath all the nameless failures;
the guilt, regrets and losses.
Beneath all the great successes;
the pride and the accomplishments.
Beneath every memory whether faded or strong,
it held…
he leaned on his cane to watch another memory made
…it did not break;
and for a moment he even looked rested.
Crossing Roads
Bones
riddled with age
wrap around the space.
The entirety of the body
embracing oblivion
like a handle hovering
just over a threshold;
an opening.
Each step
is surprised to land
a little further,
retire there
and relax,
but there is more to go.
The light is green
the streets – serene.
A hot wind
sends what remains of hair
into a silver blur of rebellion,
against time
against fragility
against predeterminism;
restrained only by old roots
that hold fast always
even beyond the grave.
Memories Settle with Age
A winter sunrise
air warmed over cold water
fog forms in the quiet
You Must be So Aged to Ride this Ride
Youth was such a storm of progress
shards of life in broken houses
compiled sweetly to impress
Older but still young at heart
I made knives from shattered glass
cut myself from cloth with class
Only time lapse could capture younger days
the ones now burn slow and pass in a phrase
something about redefining success
There is no need for time to keep going
the river flows against our rowing
but the water rushes onward still
despite efforts to paddle uphill
Grow Gray With Me 