Notes About The Poem

Middle

In youth, vacations lent my Summers wings
and Christmas gilded wintertime in gold.
I've aged (a bit) and love my Falls and Springs
for landing in between too hot or cold.
In time, I've learned it doesn't pay to be
too up or down, too rich or poor, too round
or thin. Avoiding each extremity,
I balance life by seeking middle ground.
I used to have my weight control down pat,
then physical exertion simply froze.
I'm somewhere south of fit and north of fat;
my muscles shrink yet still my middle grows.
As seasons come and go, I grow more sage;
I know the meaning now of "middle" age.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2023

Poem

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Blake Avatar
September 15, 2023 at 12:30 PM
I enjoyed this very much. There is a note of resignation in it that I recognise well....
Messina Avatar
July 7, 2023 at 3:53 AM
You described me perfectly (lol) Excellent sonnet, John. Your poetry is like a fine wine my friend. Hope all is well in sunny Ca. :) Charlie
Anaya Avatar
July 2, 2023 at 6:55 PM
We are all in this together, extremes are generally harmful as Mark Twain once said if you had one foot on a hot stove and the other on a bucket of ice on the average, you're doing great. Wise and at my age...well taken!
Dietrich Avatar
June 28, 2023 at 1:22 PM
hahaha. you are quite "getting it" now. Good news, John. It gets even worse. well, thanks for your comment to my sonneteering. I Love plain sonnets like this and not all showing off with words nobody understands. A fave for your sonnet abilities.
Martin Avatar
June 26, 2023 at 7:23 AM
Well done, John, sincerely thoughtful and dare I say, philosophical with a distinctly humorous touch of beauty! Cheers / Terrell
Legros Kelley Avatar
June 12, 2023 at 3:01 PM
This is an incredibly relatable poem John, especially about the seasons. I love the springtime and days of autumn, not too hot nor too cold. It is hardest to enjoy the summer. I live where summer sizzles into the triple digit temperatures. I can't even count the number of times the message signs in front of churches annually remind us "And you think this is hot!" :)
Baker Avatar
May 20, 2023 at 2:11 PM
I love a good Sonnet like the one I just read, John. Much wisdom in your words, my friend. Like a river, there much flow in the middle. Smiles ~ Blessings Bill
Ray Avatar
May 19, 2023 at 9:39 PM
advice as old as the Greek philosophers and in reading i have grown more patient with my minimalist living....walking this with you we are in such an agreement...Aristotle believed that there exists a "golden mean," or desirable middle ground between any two extremes....and here we are...good one John
Lawrence Avatar
May 18, 2023 at 5:59 AM
Wonderful dear John ! I love this journey with you ! Avoiding the extremes and landing in middle age …. More sage for sure ! I love south of fit and north of fat ! Great visual to accompany your poem ! Hugs and blessings dear friend, Susan :)
Leiser Avatar
May 15, 2023 at 8:19 PM
I got a kick out of reading this one, John! Perfect description of middle age for us that know it! Ha! :)
Faulkner Avatar
May 15, 2023 at 4:01 PM
Your wit is as zesty as ever, this made me smile all the way through, I too love fall and spring for being in the middle of the extremes of winter and summer, and it is good to not be too much of one thing or another, maybe that's way its called a 'happy medium' :)
Cunningham Avatar
May 10, 2023 at 11:04 PM
One thing for sure John getting on in years sucks big time. Lol. Hope you're keeping well. Tom
Merryman Avatar
May 10, 2023 at 3:02 PM
John, I love your creative expressions in this poem! I can certainly relate! Blessings, Kim M
Peck Avatar
May 10, 2023 at 2:27 PM
Good one, John! Ain't it just the truth, tho!
Lane Avatar
May 10, 2023 at 2:03 PM
It’s better off you are to be north of fat and south of over the hill. As long as we can keep climbing up the hill we can stop before falling off the other side. A sage you are, John Watt, for having created such a fun read.
Bauer Avatar
May 10, 2023 at 12:57 PM
this is brilliant, john! my favorite line is "somewhere south of fit and north of fat." that is just so amazingly cool!
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