Our three children have decided to surprise us.
Two could.
The third probably shouldn’t.
Two do not mind mess.
One is persnickety.
I have not cleaned a room in over two years.
I went on strike two March’s past
When my husband brought home nine drum sets
There was no floor space before.
You can barely imagine it now.
And a Marmaduke of a dog has moved in.
He is chewing things up so fast
By the time they arrive two weeks from now
Maybe I won’t have to clean anything.
Come on down! I say. Glad for company.
Congratulations! You've now lived
a full half-century.
I'll bet you're asking, "What's in store?
What changes will I see?"
As one well past her fiftieth,
I know a thing or two.
Sit back, relax, and listen up
as I enlighten you.
First, you'll become quite popular.
Six times a month you'll see
a letter from a stalker with
the name AARP.
Your inbox messages will urge
you, "Buy Depends on Sale.”
“Our Vitamins for Fifty-Plus
are must-haves.” “Please don't fail
to buy more insurance today--
life, cancer, burial."
"At Shady Lane retirees have
a life content and full."
You'll find some younger people think
that fifty's ELDERLY!
Ignore those whippersnappers. Just
how clueless can they be?
June 22, 2019, entered in Emile Pinet's Contest on Aging
February 19, 2020, entered in Cecelia Hopkins-Drewer's Occasional
Poetry contest
Welcome to the over-the-hill gang.
We're so glad you're finally here.
We know it's a wee bit scary
knowing old age is near.
It's now perfectly acceptable
to be in bed before nine
and of course it's time to substitute
Geritol for wine.
Feel free to bang your walking stick
and scream at young people you see
to turn down their blasted music
before they go deaf as can be.
Eight hours of sleep is long gone,
you'll wake up after just three
for your nightly walk to the bathroom
to have yourself a pee
Young people will call you "sir"
and offer their seat on the bus.
Just smile , sit down and shut up
and try not to make a fuss.
Your eyesight will start to fail
and words will slip your mind.
Put everything right where it belongs
or it's whereabouts you'll never find.
It's really not that bad
getting old ... I mean older.
Don't forget to take a sweater now
as the temperatures seem colder.
Hope I haven't scared you.
Welcome to our little group
and don't forget your fibre
or else you'll never poop.
jackolanturns grin
atop rolls of dry fodder
strains of music float
all eyes watch the couple dance
they see only each other
~//~
fine country setting
whiffs of barbeque remain
the chaffing dish warm
old friends who now sipping wine
reflect on their own journey
~//~
cake patiently waits
two aged hands cut the first slice
they sample with flare
celebrating fifty years
as each other’s only mate
~//~
quiet solitude
the two gently reflecting
when later alone
yes, we have had a good life
they exclaimed to each other
~//~
© Oct, 14 2010 For Amy's Tanka contest