At the Age of Eighty

How we spend our time says so much Working, playing, musing … as such I tend to spend mine yearning to touch, While avoiding the bane of unwanted clutch. Each day I make some elaborate plans About how to spend my twenty-four spans From dawn to dusk my mind will advance, Sometimes I even make room for romance. Other times I simply while-away the day Indulging in the most frivolous foray, Letting my inner child with abandon play, And fending off anxiety that comes my way. When you’ve arrived at the age of eighty, There’s no longer any reason to feel guilty, Or try to be pretty, and certainly not dainty, You just restrain yourself from being flirty!
written January 25, 2022
Copyright © | Year Posted 2022


Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 1/28/2022 11:12:00 AM
"Indulging in the most frivolous foray, Letting my inner child with abandon play, And fending off anxiety that comes my way." - this is perfect! Keep doing it!
Login to Reply
Hankins Avatar
L Milton Hankins
Date: 1/28/2022 11:25:00 AM
Well, it seems to be working, because, in spite of my infirmities at eighty, I feel happy and healthy!
Date: 1/26/2022 5:37:00 AM
Hey Milt, with that good-looking face of yours, I'm sure you get tons of woman flirting with you :) A very inspiring poem!
Login to Reply
Messina Avatar
Charles Messina
Date: 1/26/2022 9:48:00 PM
So very sorry about Deb. She must have been wonderful.
Hankins Avatar
L Milton Hankins
Date: 1/26/2022 11:33:00 AM
Ah, I wish! No, not really. I'm very happy with my life right now. Thanks for the compliment, though. Funny, within weeks of Deb's dying, I had women flocking to me with all sorts of ploys. Of course, I ignored them, so they have crept back into the shadows for now. You simply cannot replace the best!
Date: 1/26/2022 4:22:00 AM
Carry on flirting, Milt… a slapped face never killed anyone… it doesn’t half hurt though. ;-) Terry the ‘red-cheeked terror’ (that’s an attempt at irony by the the way).
Login to Reply
Hankins Avatar
L Milton Hankins
Date: 1/26/2022 2:00:00 PM
Hmmm...I don't ever call saying anything that merited a slap, but these days you have to be extremely careful...the "me, too" movement, you know. We men are put at such a disadvantage these days, I'm afraid.
Date: 1/25/2022 12:48:00 PM
Just because your 80 Milton doesn’t mean you should stop living, there’s people half your age not as active, I see Jan is on the lookout for grey haired men, so poor Tom’s out of the picture, see things are still looking up, great poem by the way, cheers David
Login to Reply
Hankins Avatar
L Milton Hankins
Date: 1/25/2022 1:18:00 PM
Thanks, David, but I think she already has one...and she lives way too far away. I can't hand distant relationship! LOL
Date: 1/25/2022 12:38:00 PM
No age limits for flirting, Very nicely penned Milton..
Login to Reply
Hankins Avatar
L Milton Hankins
Date: 1/25/2022 1:19:00 PM
Thanks, Joseph, but these days you can't be too careful or they'll charge you with "assault and hopefully!"
Date: 1/25/2022 12:35:00 PM
Keeping yourself occupied is key, never take your eye off the ball for a minute. Tom
Login to Reply
Hankins Avatar
L Milton Hankins
Date: 1/25/2022 1:21:00 PM
Good advice, Tom. I do try to stay busy, and I make lots of doctor's appointments. If they make one for me six months hence, I'm so happy because I know I'll have to be alive to make that appointment! (chuckling) My optometrist even schedules me a year in advance. I'm so happy!
Date: 1/25/2022 12:30:00 PM
Hope I am still active and writing poem if I make the age of 80, and I've no issue with a bit of flirty ... I adore men with greying hair do you know any lol:-) hugs Jan xx
Login to Reply
Hankins Avatar
L Milton Hankins
Date: 1/25/2022 1:22:00 PM
See what I wrote to David. Unfortunately, I'm just too old to make the move, Jan. But, if I were younger........
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter