Allen Beilschmidt Sr. Poet Free verse

Life At 102

What's the sense 
of setting goals
when your this old
I think to myself
with a near worn out brain.

Loved ones visit,
forced grins on their faces
the smell of antiseptic
stinking freshly polished hallways-
reminders of death.

Across the room
a nurse attending
to my drooling room mate.

Smile
my visitors say.
Why don't you ever
smile anymore?

Can anyone really be
that stupid?
   Hell-
I could leave at 
any minute
and they want me 
to smile.

But, then again, so could they.

Twelve year olds 
are buried in holes
smothered with flowers
and plaques above them
to satisfy the guilt
of the living.

Where are the absolutes?
Where are the guarantees

I expected guarantees
in this thing we call life.

And yesterday seems so
    far away.

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Demetrios Trifiatis April 29, 2019 at 1:30 PM A profound poem! I have met and lived with people more than 100 years old who had a lot of things to smile about: First they had reached that age. Second they had children , grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Third they had lived historic events that other generations would admire. You see there is this oxymoron: We abhor old age but we do whatever we can to reach it and when we reach it we complain for being old. I knew a 103 year old lady she was so much alive! Thank you for visiting

Silent One April 29, 2019 at 1:18 PM What is life, but a temporary uncontrollable existence, unless you decide to end it yourself.. your poem is profound and makes one think..excellent.. Allen Beilschmidt Sr. April 29, 2019 at 1:24 PM 'temporary and uncontrollable existence' I could't agree more.

Panagiota Romios April 29, 2019 at 1:01 PM Good one! Indeed, we expect folks in such places to smile? And, too, I think whoever we are, unless dead, we still can find joy in the days left, if we so choose. For some reason, Anne Frank comes to mind. Even the most dire of circumstances, she still felt joy in her life. Amazing. Panagiota Allen Beilschmidt Sr. April 29, 2019 at 1:05 PM Thanks Panagiota, a fine name indeed. Yes I believe that Anne Frank, if you'll excuse the idiom, fits the bill.