Notes About The Poem

 

written 31 Dec 2021

 

Getting Old Is Getting Old

I've grown a bit slower, I've grown a bit fatter,
  my mission each hour: relieving my bladder.
When I was a youngster, I had no idea
  old coots who eat fruits will just get diarrhea.

My eyesight is going - my glasses need glasses,
  and don't get me started on myriad gases:
that flatus I thought should have stayed deep inside
  escaped from its chamber, despite how I tried.

My hearing was great once, now I spend big money
  on aids, just to know why those jokes are so funny.
I never had allergies back in the day -
  I sneeze now from looking at pictures of hay.

My barber once covered his floor with brown hair -
  that floor now looks gray (and there's not a lot there).
I thought in retirement I'd be a blob -
  I'm busier now than when I had a job:

My schedule with doctor's appointments I fill,
  the outcome of each is, "here, take this new pill".
Perhaps I once asked what that pain in my joint meant,
  so now my skin's greasy from medical ointment.

Once, fully formed sentences from me were heard,
 I pause quite a bit now to find the right........ word.
Back then, my vocab was a source of great pride,
 now new words or phrases I just cast aside.

I need a warm blanket, my toes all feel frosted,
  but walking to get one just leaves me exhausted.
Some good comes from fires becoming an ember -
  I'd say it here (if I could only remember…)
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

Poem

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12
Edmonds  Avatar
October 17, 2024 at 7:54 PM
What a fabulous write John, it isn’t much fun growing older, the days come and go so much faster when one’s approaching the great hereafter… Beryl
Devenish Avatar
November 21, 2023 at 1:44 PM
Hi John, Congratulations on being published in the latest anthology. "Getting Old" is a great poem as being 60 I can relate. You should publish your own poetry book. You certainly have a volume of great writes. I did for totally selfish reasons. I just wanted to be able to hold an actual book of my poems. I published on Kindle/Amazon. It was a cheap way of getting a book of mine in my hands. You should too. I read many poems on the soup but you are one of the few best. Congratulations
Spilchuk Avatar
January 28, 2022 at 9:47 AM
Rhyme, wit, and humor combined in a well thought through written poem; thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Wonderful verse.
Watt Avatar
April 3, 2022 at 11:50 PM
Dennis, I greatly appreciate your time, encouragement, and poetry friendship. Glad you stopped by ~ John
Cohen Avatar
January 27, 2022 at 10:08 AM
John, I wish I didn't appreciate this gem as much as I do. I'm fighting it kicking and screaming, but it's no good ... I'm right there with you. OK now, my hour is up and gotta go relieve my bladder ... :) Eric
Watt Avatar
January 27, 2022 at 6:09 PM
LOL, thanks for the great comment, Eric. Just so you know, the picture is not of me, haha. It's my youngest son.
Ray Choudhury Avatar
January 25, 2022 at 4:01 PM
Congratulations John, belated..on POTD..sorry I missed. This is the reality we all are going through, but I am sure, you are having a great retirement with delightful activities, like your poems - they are brighter than ever! I am jealous and wish I had your grasp of vocabulary! Love and best wishes, Dear Friend ~ Mala
Watt Avatar
January 27, 2022 at 6:08 PM
Thank you, dear friend. You have been so supportive ever since we met. I'm always so encouraged by your supportive words and inspired by your poetry. God bless you ~ John
Allison Avatar
January 8, 2022 at 3:18 PM
lol John I think you have been spying on the Allison household lol, thanks for the big smiles:-) hugs Jan xx
Watt Avatar
January 12, 2022 at 9:55 AM
lol, I guess the Watt household and the Allison household are similar in their sights, sounds, and smells... thanks for the fun comment! Hugs ~ John
Proxenos Avatar
January 5, 2022 at 9:41 AM
I respect anyone that acknowledges they age, we don't have to give our age for we look our age, but some think they are seventy going on fifty and others realistically feel they are sixty going on seventy. Aging means we need holidays that aren't too busy, for they make us dizzy, so we went away to relax, missed your POTD, gosh, must be a memory lapse! Hugs and blessings dear friend, CONGRATULATIONS! Jennifer.
Watt Avatar
January 12, 2022 at 9:54 AM
Oh Jennifer, I so agree... acknowledging that the years are creeping up is an attractive quality in a person, imho. It's my reality, so I might as well find a laugh or two as I'm going through these annoying changes. Thanks for your poetic touches in your comment, always a joy to hear from you. Blessings and hugs ~ John
Flood Avatar
January 4, 2022 at 4:32 PM
Oops! I wondered if this might get POTD… and then I go and miss it. Belated congrats none the less, John. Terry
Watt Avatar
January 4, 2022 at 4:50 PM
Thanks, you young whippersnapper! We fogies have to stick together, lol
Messina Avatar
January 4, 2022 at 2:03 PM
This is absolutely brilliant, fantastic, and fun! My glasses need glasses (hilarious), John. Wishing you and yours a very Happy & Healthy New Year. PS: I was about to say this should be POTD but as read the comments I see that it was well desrved. Congratulations my friend! Charlie
Watt Avatar
January 4, 2022 at 4:05 PM
Charlie, since I am two days younger than you I suppose my appropriate nickname is 'whippersnapper' and yours is 'fogie', but the reality is we're both getting older and dealing with many of the same maladies... might as well laugh about it, right? Thanks for joining in the fun and for the friendly comment. Hope you thoroughly enjoyed your birthday last month. Take care ~ John
Marcum Wong Avatar
January 4, 2022 at 1:51 AM
A delightful relatable poem so many may identify with. This past year I finally let my hair show its natural white state and I found out I enjoy it! This is a great choice for POTD my friend. Congratulations John! I loved it! New year blessings are being sent your way. Hugs, Connie xxoo
Watt Avatar
January 4, 2022 at 12:57 PM
Thank you dear friend for the new year blessings, the congrats, and the joy of knowing this made you smile. Happy to hear about the hair going 'au naturel', my hair is mostly gray now. My mother used to say, 'You've grown it - own it'. Happy New Year ~ John
Legros Kelley Avatar
January 2, 2022 at 10:51 PM
Congratulations on your well-deserved POTD! Thank you for making my husband and I laugh out loud, we can truly relate, and yeah, getting old IS getting old! This is a FAV!
Watt Avatar
January 4, 2022 at 12:53 PM
Thank you for the fav and for letting me know your husband and you both enjoyed this, Betty Jo. Some readers may be older than I and some younger, but one thing is always true: each one of us is older than we were a year ago. Happy New Year, my friend ~ John
Faulkner Avatar
January 2, 2022 at 7:15 PM
I can relate to so much (more than I'm willing to admit!) I think the one that made me smile the most (rather appropriately) is the 'money/funny' line - and if I could only remember the right 'cranberry' (I plug that in when I'm searching for the right word) - so happy new/old year, my friend! (also I think I recognize that title from somewhere, if I could only remember that!)
Watt Avatar
January 3, 2022 at 9:07 PM
'Cranberry' will be my new fill-in word (if I can remember it, that is!) Some of these ideas came from watching my Mom make it to the ripe old age of 97, and she had quite the sense of humor. Thank you very much for the visit, dear friend. Happy New Year ~ John
Nicole Avatar
January 2, 2022 at 6:05 PM
The title made me smile. "Getting Old (IS) Getting Old". So true. I like this statement, which a friend told my father: *Getting old isn't for Sissies*. Yikes ! Another true thought. I enjoyed the humor within, my dear sweet friend. It's best to laugh about getting old, rather than to complain. Even though, those aches and pains do cause you to say ouch ! Always stay young at heart. Thank you for being here, for being you. Congratulations John, on Poem of the Day. Happy New Year. My best to you. :) Hugs, Brandy
Watt Avatar
January 3, 2022 at 9:05 PM
Ah, so true, getting old isn't for Sissies! My mother lived to 97 and she was made of tough fiber. A survivor of the Great Depression, WWII, the Cold War, and many personal losses, but she bore her advancing years with grace, courage, and a smile, never a complaint. I appreciate you and your words of kindness. Happy New Year, Brandy. Hugs ~ John
Delaney Avatar
January 2, 2022 at 5:19 PM
This one is brilliant, John: Congratulatiions. on POTD You captured old age in…..what’s that thing they say…oh I know a nutshell. Excellent and a fave. Best SuZ
Watt Avatar
January 3, 2022 at 9:01 PM
SuZ, thank you very much for the kind visit and for joining in the fun. Loved your comment. Happy New Year ~ John
Jones Avatar
January 2, 2022 at 5:00 PM
Lol love your witty potd. Congrats
Watt Avatar
January 3, 2022 at 9:01 PM
Thank you very much for the visit, Karen. Happy New Year ~ John
La France Avatar
January 2, 2022 at 1:00 PM
John, I love how you put humor in getting old, oh yes, it comes with all those aches and issues but I bet you also have wonderful days and congratulations on your POEM OF THE DAY honor ~ friendship and poetry _Constance
Watt Avatar
January 3, 2022 at 9:00 PM
Thank you, my lovely poetic friend and encourager. You're so right the aches and pains are accompanied by many, many joys and pleasures. I appreciate you and your ever uplifting words. Happy New Year ~ John
Gorelick Avatar
January 2, 2022 at 11:41 AM
Clever and charming old age is alarming, nicely crafted "Happy Old Year"
Watt Avatar
January 3, 2022 at 8:59 PM
Thank you very much for the visit and the poetic comment, Robert. It's nice to meet you here at Soup. Happy New Year ~ John
Andresen Avatar
January 2, 2022 at 10:25 AM
- A great humorous poem :) - Congratulations on your p.o.t.d. :) - Happy New Year, John - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
Watt Avatar
January 3, 2022 at 8:58 PM
Thank you very much for the visit, Anne-Lise. It is always lovely to see your sunshine smile and hear your kind words. Happy New Year ~ John
Rodrigues Avatar
January 2, 2022 at 9:15 AM
LOL…So true…don’t I know it! Congratulations on POTD!
Watt Avatar
January 3, 2022 at 8:57 PM
Thank you very much for the visit, Kim. I think a lot of us can relate. Happy New Year, my friend ~ John
Peck Avatar
January 2, 2022 at 9:07 AM
A wonderful, funny write for the New Year! Unfortunately, aging brings all those unnecessary inconveniences :) Happy New Year (anyhow) :)
Watt Avatar
January 3, 2022 at 8:57 PM
Glad you stopped by to join in the fun, Ann. We don't have a lot of control over it, so we might as well laugh about it. Happy New Year ~ John
Baker Avatar
January 2, 2022 at 8:30 AM
Congrats on POTD, John You cover the subject quite well and with great humor. Bill
Watt Avatar
January 3, 2022 at 8:55 PM
So kind of you to stop by and leave behind your words of encouragement, Bill. Happy new year ~ John
Lawless Avatar
January 2, 2022 at 8:30 AM
A masterfully written expose' of the rigors of aging. I shall save it as a check list as i march toward my 80's. I can still feed myself and tie my own shoes and my grand kids still think Papa is "silly" but not to be trifled with. congrats on POTD.
Watt Avatar
January 3, 2022 at 8:56 PM
My kids have always thought I was silly, probably because that's what my Dad Jokes are. Thanks for stopping by and joining in the fun, John. A very Happy New Year to you ~ John
Turner Avatar
January 2, 2022 at 8:19 AM
Congratulations on POTD honors John. Very entertaining read and very well written. I can definitely relate, add in the loss of hearing and the loss of balance (having to hold on to something or lean against something to put your pants on) and I'm right there with you. Happy new Year:)
Watt Avatar
January 3, 2022 at 8:54 PM
Yes, the loss of balance is another thing, forgot to add that in there. Guess I'll have to revise it someday (if I live long enough). Thanks for joining in the fun, Daniel. Happy New Year ~ John
Roper Avatar
January 2, 2022 at 6:59 AM
We grow a bit shorter, skin stinky with menthol and greasy from medical ointment. Funny write, I totally enjoyed it. Congratulations on POTD! Happy New Year my dear friend , stay warm with lots of hugs and love
Watt Avatar
January 3, 2022 at 8:53 PM
Very sweet words from a sweet friend. Glad you enjoyed, I appreciate the visit and the kind wishes. Happy New Year to you. Hugs and love ~ John
Wolf Avatar
January 2, 2022 at 6:50 AM
John, this is simply a classic. You have summed up all the blessings of age perfectly! A FAVE for me, and congrats on POTD. A Happy and less-painful 2022 for you! ~ Gershon
Watt Avatar
January 3, 2022 at 8:52 PM
Oh my, a fave from a Fave! You bless me with your kind affirmation, dear friend. I wish you the same for 2022 ~ Friend of Lobo
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