The Whiskey Taster’s Flavor Guide

Bumped His Head

An old man walking up the steps
Fell down and hit his head.
We ran to help him, fearing he
Was hurt or maybe dead.

This happened leading to the park,
The ground as hard as stone,
Material to crack your skull
Or maybe break a bone.

The man sat up quite slowly;
There was blood upon his hair.
We said we’d call an ambulance;
He’d suffered quite a scare.

But he refused; we helped him up,
Repeating we could call,
For he should see a doctor
After such a nasty fall.

He shook his head; I’m 86
And I will be okay.
We watched him as he climbed the stairs
And slowly walked away.

He might have a concussion
And perhaps made a mistake
But the ultimate decision
Wasn’t one for us to make.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2022

Poem

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Watt Avatar
February 14, 2022 at 10:39 AM
you were doing the compassionate thing to both assist him and suggest further treatment... we old guys can be pretty stubborn sometimes (sometimes? lol)
Leffanta Avatar
February 13, 2022 at 9:53 AM
Calling an ambulance in Honolulu is an immediate cost of $1,300; 86-year-olds usually find a better way to spend their Social Security cheque - but enjoyed your poem, Ilene! Aloha!
Flood Avatar
February 12, 2022 at 4:23 PM
At 86, he’s probably an old boy from the school of hard knocks. Nowadays, a broken finger nail is a day off work. This chap probably went home to find a tie to match his blooded hair. Your poems always read like true stories, Ilene and I’m guessing they are. Always a good read. Terry
Cunningham Avatar
February 12, 2022 at 1:15 PM
You never know with a head injury, it's always best to get it checked out, hope he's okay. Tom
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The Whiskey Taster’s Flavor Guide
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace