Longevity; longevity -
to think I used to long for that!
I wouldn’t want my nine lives more
if now I even were a cat.
My strong years are behind me now,
so which will give out next on me?
My messed-up neck; one of my knees;
a hip? Or will it be all three?
Degeneration I now greet
each day although I exercise.
But if I fall face to the floor,
I might require some help to rise.
When I was young, I felt so fit.
I thought a centenarian
I’d be, but even birds of prey
might pass me up as carrion!
Longevity; longevity -
I say it now with levity.
A life well-lived is life enough.
Let’s have a little brevity.
The Black Cat
Not too long ago (the lifespan of flies)
she had an all black coat that was now
all grey, and her effulgent green eyes
were very dull brown now.
In front of the wall
mirror named Paul,
she was filled with appal
by her centenarian looks. 'I should end it all!'
Instead, she rammed her reflection
in her great abjection.
She hurt her head and her eye.
She began to cry.
Suddenly ....
there was a beautiful black cat with no grey
and no paling beside her in
the mirror waving Hey.
Too jealous of the award-winner,
she rammed the nonsinner
She rammed so hard the mirror blew apart.
Then she felt so dizzy she passed out on a half-eaten tart.
In her all-night
dream at night
she was waving blissfully to the
cheering crowd on the
tombstone Halloween float covered in light
and shadow (quite the fright!),
a float she was booked to appear on that night.
Escape: Tribute to George Oliver
"People can't fly when they're backed into a corner." -Tami Longaberger
Centenarian, I can only imagine
What you were thinking
When you boarded your wheelchair,
Headed out the door of the Ewing Wing,
And took the downhill runway.
Surely you meant to take flight-
Bystanders who saw that you had left your Rocking chair
Could only gape in awe at your audacity of hope.
The California Highway Patrol,
Noting that you forgot to fasten your seatbelt,
Rushed in where the federal aviation commission could not.
The CHP took you back to John C Fremont
And bound you to earth for the few days
you had left.
Trapped, we often get our wings late.
My friend, I can only assume, that you,
Despite the new alarm on the door of the Ewing wing,
Are flying high above us
JIMMY CARTER
(A Haiku Trio Tribute)
Not before his time,
On-time to sow seeds of hope;
Plowing with love:-
Raking away hate,
He prepared grounds for world peace;
Sowing seeds of hope:-
Centenarian,
Canvassing healing worldwide;
Plowing gracefully:-
Wonderful sunshine
Happiness to an angel
Singing through this cutie
A piece sung by Celine Dion
My Heart Will Go On.
Hot noon day a blazing fury
A poor PWD weightlifter
Trying her best practice religiously
Unmindful the poor physical condition of the gym
She's still manage to cup a prize for her name.
Misty cold evening at ground hotel
A lonesome romantic dancer
Dancing on the floor in rhythmic motion
Accompaniment of a grand piano
Played by a centenarian grandpa.
Blue vericose veins
Depends defend against stain
Firey heart unchanged
Seems love's a very good topic for a poem
People know the subject really well
We all have separate thoughts about love
Those that are obsessed, you can tell
Women as they age can take-it-or-leave-it
With men, it's a real different ball game
From puberty to the age of a centenarian
Their loins are constantly aflame
So how do we solve this obvious disparity
This age old problem that exists
The only time it gets to be a real problem
Is when she says no and he insists
Arguments ensue and nothing gets solved
Both go to sleep feeling angry
We must understand the needs of each other
Been going on for centuries, frankly
This is not exactly your typical love poem
An anti-love poem so to speak
It will never be like a fairy tale happening
It still can bring both to the peak
As illness spread across the land, and our lives began to spiral,
A Captain and his charitable plan was a tale that soon went viral.
A centenarian walking laps, distracted us from Covid stats and charts,
And the route he took around his home led him straight into our hearts.
As we battled with the virus, he evoked the fighting spirit of another time,
An avuncular figure bringing comfort to the nation, a gentleman sublime.
His grit and humour in the face of adversity, filled us all with admiration,
And as the funds began to grow, he seized the collective imagination.
He was filled with joy and love, and living in the moment was his aim,
He took his achievements in his stride, awed and delighted by his fame.
When life was at his grimmest, his words of strength helped us to survive,
His sunny disposition broke through the dark clouds, keeping hope alive.
Now, as we gather to give thanks for him, we recall his words of wisdom and we pray,
“That we shall get through this, things will get better and tomorrow will be a good day”.
Today I'm celebratin' my final day as an Octogenarian.
Tomorrow I'll join the Fraternity of The Nonagenarian!
The decades have passed so fleet but its been one helluva ride,
And somehow I've managed to survive and taken it all in stride!
Now, 'tis my earnest goal to become a dashin' Centenarian!
(I suppose that could happen should I opt to be a Vegetarian!)
Next time I see my doc I'm gonna ask if he has sufficient clout,
To keep lubricatin' these old bones to ensure that my aim he can bring about!
The mighty centenarian marches
slowly uphill across the level ground
through viscous air, stiffened by time’s starches,
fighting a viral foe this time around
allied with the Hippocratic Oath bound.
A metallic steed shod with rubber wheels
bears his regal frame. His campaign reveals
greater power than any sword or spear.
He raised a sum for the army that heals
and warmed our hearts in a chilling cold year.
Hope I live to be a hundred ~ but never actually reach it.
By
David Kavanagh
One hundred laps Captain Tom did walk,
His zimmer leading on,
Determined and heroic,
Until his task was done.
This centenarian soldier,
Who’d served his country well
Vowed he would join the other heroes,
And the virus they’d repel.
He’d lead the fight just as before,
When fighting’s what they did best,
And urge them on while putting first,
His frail body to the test.
What glorious thoughts went through his mind,
What memories of days gone by,
We mere mortals can only guess,
At the battles in his mind’s eye.
Such men as these make countries great,
And Medics all that he speaks for,
We see them rise above the rest,
And feel humbled to the core.
Happy Birthday Captain Tom.
A baby is born
Dawns a new morn
A centenarian passes away
Sad close to a day
A new life arrives
An older departs --
Transmitted, the flame
~ of a human heart
A child to be sent to the earth
Through the loins of an octogenarian
A faithful promise!
Fretful and apprehensive
Like a mother hen
She took up the onus of creation
To beget without delay the promised child;
Anxiety of a mother!
Few years later,
The octogenarian now a centenarian
Fathers two nations
Now children of promise;
A promise kept!
Scions of royal stock
Now maim and slaughter each other
Pray and kill
Pray and die;
Products of one promise!
Always on pilgrimage
Praying and fasting
In rivers of flowing innocent blood
Why kill your brother?
Mocking the promise!
Our ancestors lament,
They mourn for our ignorance
They sob for the disunity between brothers
Descendants of the promise
Arise and unite oh ye offspring!
Brrrrr my alarm clock wakes me with a start. I open heavy eyelids to see sun streaming through a chink in the curtains. Bounding out of bed I hurriedly dress in my bikini and cover up with my shortest shorts and tightest tee-shirt. With my arthritic knees and varicose veins I am no Betty Grable, but I’m gonna prove once and for all that I can still cut it! Grabbing my surf board I head off to the local beach where my family are gathered for my 100th birthday celebrations. There is an air of anticipation as I strip down to my bikini and dip my toes into the freezing water. White spume crashes up the beach as I paddle out on my surfboard, everyone cheers as I stand and begin cresting huge waves eventually coming to rest on the damp sand. My son wraps me in a fluffy towel and hands me a steaming mug of hot chocolate. He presents me with a telegram from the Queen and a gold envelope containing a voucher for my next challenge of wing walking ...I just cannot stop smiling!
centenarian
surfs like flipper the dolphin
palm trees blow in breeze
Hey Write a Happy Haibun Contest
Sponsored by Caren Krutsinger
2/7/19
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