Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart Poet Free verse

On Turning Fifty

A five and a zero.
Numbers.
The big one creeping up,
Five...
Four three two one!
The countdown has begun
The race is on.
Big one creeping up so fast
I can hear the crack of the gun.
The big five... Oh
My mother didn't make it past.
I've been told that that's your big one,
Your own ceiling of glass;
That it creeps into your psyche,
Your parents to outlast.
I've been working for a while
To quit smoking before forty,
Success five years too late.
Five to go, the age that she was shortly.
Fifteen years six months eight days between us
Is as close as we ever got.
I don't need closer now,
I have a second shot;
I almost died with no idea what hit me,
A tragic but not sad how.
So to me it does occur
To slowly drown as your lungs fill
Is to fill a fate 
I would much rather defer.

17.04.08

For On Turning Fifty Contest

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Lim'Rik Flats November 8, 2017 at 8:52 AM Pokin' in yer closet this morn, hope ya don't mind. Think I'll leave a triple wowsa here. In a few years you can find it and go: Damn! Keep breathing kiddo... and writing for us fans. ~ j Lim'Rik Flats November 8, 2017 at 9:43 AM Elvira!?!?!?! Yes!!!! Absolutely! (Jack will want her gown;-) Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart November 8, 2017 at 9:17 AM Mind the skeletons :) no Dolly, but an Elvira Mistress of The Dark wig if you're interested... Thank you John, you are much appreciated dear xomo! A lovely day to you!

Line Gauthier October 16, 2017 at 7:29 PM I love your introspection and parallel to your mother. I hope you find that life begins at 50. Best wishes to you. Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart October 16, 2017 at 9:13 PM Thank you Line :) bless you xomo

Hannah Borke August 9, 2017 at 12:00 AM I'm older, though youth's not lost; I live it through little grandchildren. Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart August 9, 2017 at 6:32 AM That! Is a wonderful sentiment :)

Kurt Philip Behm May 8, 2017 at 1:38 PM Powerful, Maureen. I felt every word. Kurt Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart May 8, 2017 at 2:45 PM Thank you Kurt (hope that didn't hurt) xomo ;)

Kai Michael Neumann April 28, 2017 at 11:13 AM Congratulations on your win. Keep it going, Kai Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart April 28, 2017 at 11:31 AM Thank you Kai :) xomo

Teddy Kimathi April 27, 2017 at 8:07 AM Congrats Maureen, for your well-deserved top placement in the contest!! ;-) Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart April 27, 2017 at 9:54 AM Thank you Teddy :) xomo

Cheryl Hoffman April 27, 2017 at 7:55 AM This is such a great introspective down to earth write~takes a lot to bare ones soul and you nailed it Mo! Belated congrats to you!~Che :) PS You are still a "young'un" at 45 y/o~glad you are taking better care of your health!:) Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart April 27, 2017 at 9:49 AM Thank you dear! Almost 45, mother's day, lines up this year, made her a mum on that day... poetry always been with me lol & ya, I am young at heart. Hugs you! xomo ;)

Darren White April 27, 2017 at 1:21 AM Congratulations, ma mo <3 Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart April 27, 2017 at 9:53 AM Thank you sweet P! ;) xomo! Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart April 27, 2017 at 9:50 AM Thank you sweet P! ;) xomo!

Kim Rodrigues April 25, 2017 at 2:32 PM Congrats, Maureen! We all face fifty in our own way. Great write. Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart April 26, 2017 at 6:13 AM Indeed we do. To me the numbers are just laps around the sun. Thanks lady! Have a lovely day! :) xomo

Agnes Krampe April 25, 2017 at 2:27 PM Congrats on your win, Maureen. Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart April 26, 2017 at 6:06 AM Thank you Agnes :) xomo!

Cecelia Hopkins-Drewer April 25, 2017 at 2:27 PM This was really touching Maureen. Congratulations, Cecelia Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart April 26, 2017 at 6:07 AM Thank you Cecelia :) xomo!

Vera Duggan April 24, 2017 at 11:18 PM Hi Maureen, love this poem on Turning 50, well that seems like a life time away for me, very soon turning 74, have had a good life now waiting for the big 80 to come but I have good genes as my mother turns 99 next month so hopefully I take after her and not my father as he died at my age now, anyway my dear stay young and happy, that is the main thing and can you tell me what xomo means, take care......Vera Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart April 25, 2017 at 5:55 AM Thank you Vera :) I am certainly young and happy at heart. My maternal grandmother passed at 92, my other is 96, alas adopted I don't share her genes, father's side a mystery, as life is ;) xomo is hugs and kisses mo, my nickname. Take care you Vera & bless xomo

Sandra Haight April 22, 2017 at 5:12 PM So very powerful but somber, Maureen. Age does not matter for it is good health that dictates how old we feel. Best wishes for you to stay healthy with optimism for the future, and best wishes for the contest with this outstanding poem. 7 Hugs, Sandra Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart April 23, 2017 at 7:31 AM I agree, it's not how you look, it's how you feel. I wish you health and happiness :) thank you for your kind words Sandra, bless xomo!

Elle Kilma April 20, 2017 at 6:59 PM I really like the way you write. I also wish you the best of health. Age is such a mysterious thing. I'm in my 30s and have fibromyalgia and three herniated discs. Pain makes us look at life differently. Good luck and keep writing! Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart April 21, 2017 at 11:42 AM Thank you Elle :) and ouch. I do have chronic pain, and chronic optimism, and a healthy case of Joie de Vivre; so with you I must agree. Take care and write on! xomo

Darlene Gifford April 15, 2017 at 6:29 PM Strong writing and so sincere! I understand about success coming too late. My mom smoked Lucky strikes, filtered kind. She stopped 10 years before she died. But still got emphazema. (spelled wrong) My Dad smoked Camels and lived into his 90s! I don't smoke and I'll turn 80 in a few days. But I have heart disease and wear a pacemaker. But doing great. I pray for your health to improve. ~~~Darlene Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart April 15, 2017 at 7:59 PM Thank you Darlene, we truly are fragile beings. I like to joke that of the arthritis and such "I feel like I should" having lived as hard as I have. I wish you well dear, quality over quantity peace and happiness always xomo

Lisa Ricci April 12, 2017 at 5:31 PM Good Evening Maureen. Yes, the big 50. We should all look at it as only a number as long as we have our health. Without that it doesn't matter. You managed to tell a story within your words. Best of luck with the contest. Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart April 12, 2017 at 10:02 PM Thank you Lisa:) tis but trips around the sun to we monkeys that like counting. Bless xomo

Freddie Robinson Jr. April 12, 2017 at 11:43 AM This is spectacular, introspective poetry w/laser insight, Maureen. Your pen is sharp w/truth and emotional clarity. Keep on dropping the love and knowledge. Btw, I'm about to turn 59. Life is so good on this side of the age bridge. Love this poem immensely. A 7! Love always. Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart April 12, 2017 at 9:56 PM Ty Freddie! I do enjoy the way the contests here can inspire so, I liken it to painting in a studio class as the environment breeds creativity. A little premature happy birthday to you friend x's and o's and a whole lot of love ;) mo!

Doug Vinson April 11, 2017 at 11:27 PM You're on a roll, Maureen! Really like this. : ) But yes - tick tick tick and the metronome seems to get more spry all the time. Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart April 12, 2017 at 9:51 PM Love the image of the metronome, that with "roll"... I'm definitely rock'n it! ;D thanks Doug! xomo

Andrea Dietrich April 11, 2017 at 7:23 PM oh my such a sad thing you describe. You took this challenge very seriously and poured your heart out. Mine is slightly humorous when I get around to posting it. I am over 60 now, and THAT makes 60 look like a cake walk. Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart April 12, 2017 at 9:49 PM I be looking for it! Cheers dear;) xomo!

Kim Rodrigues April 11, 2017 at 2:14 PM Maureen! Maureen... tears, dear! Even when others are well, still fifty creeps upon us, dreadfully concerned...creeping into the unknown, the zone. Blessings dear for many more (emphasis) WONDERFUL years! Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart April 11, 2017 at 2:33 PM Thank YOU dear... \/ live long and prosper to you! ;) bless! xomo

Anne-Marie Coreggia April 10, 2017 at 4:51 PM Great poem Maureen! I like round numbers so I usually tell people I'm 60, even though I'm not there yet:) Amitiés Kim Rodrigues April 11, 2017 at 2:15 PM Funny, Anne-Marie, because I always seem to make myself older than I am since I was born in October and i was born on an even year sooooo... <3 Kim Rodrigues

Darren White April 8, 2017 at 11:21 PM THAT mo, is a frightening poem, because yeah... for all the reasons you mention, not for the age itself, I imagine. Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart April 9, 2017 at 8:10 AM Age doesn't frighten me, numbers do! Math EEK! I am turning 45 next month which didn't really bug me till writing this poem lol ;) Just got on my trike yesterday, am I out of shape! Looking forward to seeing how my lungs do smoke free (too after years of sucking exhaust fumes) xomo! hugs

Poetprentice Dupins April 8, 2017 at 10:41 PM This is just flat out good poetry. 7+ Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart April 9, 2017 at 8:11 AM Thank you dear Poet. I am graced :) xomo!