Senility's Tightrope Collab With Cd

She sits in silence at the end of day
Beside the fire that barely warms the air
Her mind in anguish, threads that tend to fray
Companionless, within a room austere.

	Like a carousel swirling around me
	Are faces, places, traces of my life
	These disjointed images confound me
	Recollections sliced by a jagged knife. 

The curtains drawn; the door chains are in place
Her thoughts are roaming down the paths of night
A hint of sadness settles on her face
As shadows flicker in the waning light.

	There was a man, can’t remember his name
	But such fine features graced his handsome face
        My wild, young heart his soothing words would tame
	As I danced with him in chantilly lace. 
	
She can’t help thinking of the years that pass
The complications of advancing age
Life hard to handle just like fragile glass
Progressive weakness in initial stage.

	How easily we swayed across the floor
	Effortlessly as an orchestra played
	An oceanside hall at some unknown shore
	Lord knows, I felt like such a lucky maid! 
	
She fears the fading of a priceless stock
Each recollection slipping from her grip
Memorabilia gathered round the clock
Accumulated in her lifetime trip.

	Oh, to feel young and pain-free one more time
	But this man’s gone now, and with him, my hope
	My mind wanders back to days of my prime
	As I tread on senility’s tightrope. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

*Poem co-written by Paul Callus and Carolyn Devonshire

Copyright © | Year Posted 2018



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 5/22/2018 1:13:00 PM
Wow! Your poem is expressed with illuminating sensitivity and with such emotional elegance, Paul. You’ve penned a masterful collaboration with Carolyn and your enlightening poem handles the subject matter with poignant beauty. Exquisite and moving poetry my wonderful friend. Warmest wishes and hugs always. ~Susan
Login to Reply
Callus Avatar
Paul Callus
Date: 5/26/2018 4:17:00 PM
Thank you Susan. I can assure you that Carolyn too will love your insightful comments! So glad that you were moved by our subject matter. ~ Warm wishes & hugs my friend. // paul
Date: 4/11/2018 8:32:00 AM
Holy Crow! Fantastic collaboration. You two did a work of art together. Fancy footwork and capable pens come to mind.
Login to Reply
Callus Avatar
Paul Callus
Date: 4/11/2018 11:49:00 AM
Many thanks, Rhoda. Your lovely feedback is truly appreciated:) Regards // paul
Date: 4/4/2018 9:02:00 PM
Love this gleaming and well crafted rhyme my friend. Both of you have composed a golden treasure Hugs Eve~`*
Login to Reply
Callus Avatar
Paul Callus
Date: 4/7/2018 4:42:00 PM
Yours are lovely and generous comments, dear Eve...thank you! I'm sure Carolyn will be pleased to read them, too. Hugs // paul
Date: 4/4/2018 7:34:00 PM
LIke I told Carolyn, this is SUPER fine. It's obvious how hard you both worked on this and how much feeling you put into it.
Login to Reply
Callus Avatar
Paul Callus
Date: 4/7/2018 4:40:00 PM
Thank you, Andrea. Once an idea crops up it soon develops into a fully fledged poem, and yes, we both take serious pleasure in co-writing! Regards // paul
Date: 4/3/2018 1:32:00 PM
This is one of the best collabs I have read... A subject that is relavant to many people...
Login to Reply
Callus Avatar
Paul Callus
Date: 4/7/2018 4:27:00 PM
Your complimentary remarks are appreciated, S-1...thank you. Regards // paul
Date: 4/3/2018 3:05:00 AM
A beautiful collaboration Paul, the advancing years can be so cruel sometimes. Memories surface then fade. Tom
Login to Reply
Callus Avatar
Paul Callus
Date: 4/7/2018 3:54:00 PM
Thank you, Tom. You are right...we are free to live in denial, but truth cannot be erased! Regards // paul
Date: 4/3/2018 1:53:00 AM
Excellent. Very sensitively penned poem on aging. Age never bothered me either. A great collaboration.
Login to Reply
Callus Avatar
Paul Callus
Date: 4/7/2018 3:52:00 PM
Thank you for reading and liking, Ravi. Blessed are those who manage to take life and advancing age with a pinch of salt:) Regards // paul
Date: 4/3/2018 1:45:00 AM
Great collaboration, Paul and Carolyn. Such a sad, difficult topic.
Login to Reply
Callus Avatar
Paul Callus
Date: 4/7/2018 3:45:00 PM
Thank you, Agnes. Many talk about the benefits of old age, yet deep down we know that drawbacks exist, too! Regards // paul
Date: 4/2/2018 9:25:00 PM
Living with only memories gets damn lonesome at times. A wonderful collaboration Paul and Carolyn. You two always bring your best when you write together. So nice to hear from you again Carolyn, you are missed. Paul, it's always a pleasure to read your poems. That tightrope is pretty darned crowded Carolyn.
Login to Reply
Callus Avatar
Paul Callus
Date: 4/7/2018 3:23:00 PM
So glad you enjoyed our combined effort, Danny. It's always a pleasure to work with Carolyn...it's like having a pleasant chat over a nice cup of tea and cake:) As for the tightrope, I'd rather be on this than the one used to cross the Niagara Falls! Regards // paul
Date: 4/2/2018 5:13:00 PM
Congrats Paul and Carolyn, such a sensitively penned poem on aging, your words gave me a huge lump in my throat especially when i think of the people in mum's care home:-( adding to my faves:-) hugs Jan xx
Login to Reply
Devonshire Avatar
Carolyn Devonshire
Date: 4/11/2018 4:37:00 PM
Jan, I can't tell you how much your comment meant. Hope your mother is doing well.
Callus Avatar
Paul Callus
Date: 4/6/2018 3:11:00 PM
Thank you, Jan. I'm still catching up on accumulated mail! I am sure that this topic is one that many can relate to. Hugs // paul
Date: 4/2/2018 5:08:00 PM
Just wanted to thank you for writing with me again, Paul. It's always a pleasure.
Login to Reply
Callus Avatar
Paul Callus
Date: 4/5/2018 4:20:00 PM
The pleasure is mine, Carolyn. It is a gift to be able to inspire and be inspired. Thank you...Hugs // paul
Date: 4/2/2018 5:04:00 PM
Well done collaboration on aging! My parents now 79 and 80. I hug them tight everytime I see them. 6AT
Login to Reply
Callus Avatar
Paul Callus
Date: 4/5/2018 4:24:00 PM
Thank you, Kim. We owe a lot to our parents. Best regards // paul
Devonshire Avatar
Carolyn Devonshire
Date: 4/2/2018 5:46:00 PM
Yes, be sure to show them the love that's in your heart, Kim. My mother died young and I've always wished I could go back and tell her just one more time how much I love her.
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter