Brian K. Bilverstone Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

Although I must lay claim to some of the ailments of age, I count myself lucky to have escaped (so far) some of the extremes that advancing years can bring.

But there are some days (and when I wrote this in 2022 it must have been one of them) when it all catches up with me and gives me an unpleasant kick.

Listen to poem:

I Stare In the Mirror

I Stare in the Mirror


I stare in the mirror and what do I see?
An old man with rheumy eyes looking at me.

Who is this old codger, this balding old shell,
Who cannot remember what it’s like to feel well?

Where is the vibrance, the get up and go?
Why are his movements so painful and slow?

Who stole his glowing skin, his dark flashing eyes,
His derring-do, courage, his sense of emprise?

What happened to big ideas? Future? Ambition?
Why do his joints fight a war of attrition?

Why can he see clearly adolescence long past,
When he cannot remember the thing he ate last?

It doesn’t make sense, I don’t recognise him,
With his belly and baldness and weakness of limb.

No! That mirror’s a liar, whatever I see.
Whoever that old man is, he can’t be me!

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Ilene Bauer December 20, 2022 at 12:35 PM well done, brian! i guess we might as well laugh about it - not much else we can do! Brian K. Bilverstone December 21, 2022 at 2:02 AM Yep. If you didn't laugh, you'd cry! Thank you for commenting.

Deb M December 20, 2022 at 10:28 AM Absolutely love this poem Brian! Beautifully written and rhymed …..Debx Brian K. Bilverstone December 21, 2022 at 2:03 AM Thank you Deb. Glad you enjoyed it.

Karen Jones December 20, 2022 at 8:27 AM Ah but to grow old is a blessing denied to many! I enjoyed the rhyme and empathise with the message! Brian K. Bilverstone December 20, 2022 at 8:29 AM This is very true and, as an ex-serviceman I truly appreciate that. But that doesn't make the process any easier. Thank you for your comment.

Paul Bell December 20, 2022 at 8:21 AM Hate those type of mirrors, should be outlawed. As long as you can run a 5-minute mile, you're still young. Brian K. Bilverstone December 20, 2022 at 8:30 AM Me too. As for the five-minute mile, I haven't done that since - well ever, I think!! ?? Thank you for your comment.