aging
“Tarnished” by Shirley Ballard R.I.P. (87 years)
long nails and silver rings
hands that speak a gesture
for words…
silver chains around my neck
with bracelets on my arm
a silver watch that keeps
no time
(Miss Calif. 1944)
http://www.misscalifornia.org/cbSite/cbActive/cbFormers.html
Thank you for all of your love
and laughter Shirley…I am happy
you are free to party now!
I love you…
your BFF Lisa 🙂
© 2o11
Juicy Quote
“It is not all bad, this getting old, ripening.
After the fruit has got its growth it should juice up and mellow.
God forbid I should live long enough to ferment and rot and fall to the ground in a squash.”
“Where Was I?” by Mark McNease
My train of thought
derailed by something so simple
as the movement of a foot.
Where was I?
Telling you again
I would be there through it all.
I meant it.
I felt it.
I defined it in my actions.
Then a woman stood
to get her laptop from the overhead bin
and I was gone. That quickly.
Where was I
sliding into my 50s, aware now
of the signs, looking for slips
of the tongue, forgotten keys.
We must watch for these things
as decades pass and the time
comes round again where I may wonder
where you are.
Mark McNease
© 2011
“It Doesn’t Make Sense” by Vicki Batkin
So much disparity among us
Not much sense in being tawdry
…
To me, at least
And,
Ringo turns 70 this week.
I don’t like the art of noise
Nor the openness of silence
I do like the honesty of both
However, it doesn’t take much
To heap a cheap man!
All these thoughts
Jam my brain
How could it make sense
To the common man?
I’d give you the privilege
To walk inside my brain
But I’ll reserve that
For my adoring husband
It’s getting foggy now
It wasn’t when we started
I think I should take a nap
Maybe it’ll stir things up
And land in a dream
How can it be…
Ringo turns 70 this week?
© 2010
“Movie Night” by C. Jean Pearlstein
I hurry from my car to find
My place at the gentrified corner
Restaurant among my sister’s friends
It’s a warm and sunny afternoon
The outdoor umbrellas shield us from
The glare
Cacophonous voices examine in
Detail the parking logistics of
One couple.
One long time friend tries to shush the volume of the elder woman
We are all old, senior citizens
Attending weeknight movie previews
The movie centers on a young
Hawaiian princess of the 19th century
Of her love, and loss
Punctuated by sarcastic whispers
Who forgot what it’s like to
Be young, and juicy, and needy.
“I love all women”, my Sis told me earlier.
I rise and leave the theater
In the dark, while the credits scroll.
© 2010
“The Thief of Time” by Angela Cohan
He smiles his weak smile
As he reclines on his favorite chair
His receding white hair is a symbol of a long life
And every wrinkle on his kind face tells a different story
But at times his memory fails him
He forgets names and dates
Yet he is an eternal optimist
And my favorite person in the world
I sit next to him and stare into his wise brown eyes
“I remember you. You’re my oldest grandchild” he says to me
“Yes grandpa.
Tell the thief of time to stay away from you
Tell it to give us more time together
I want to hear more stories about your life
I long to hear you recount the stories of Moses and Joseph again.
Please stay with me grandpa
Our family will fall apart if you go away
Grandma will fall into a deep despair
and your grandchildren will slowly but surely forget your stories
Grandpa—stay with me.”
It breaks my heart when he asks me:
“Who are you?”
Angela Cohan
© 2010
“I Am Not…” by L. K. Thayer
your rock
is crumbling
I am not Superwoman
I am not Super Glue
I cannot
put you back together
what am I
to do
© 2010
“The Cage Got It’s Birdy…With The Help Of Banksy” by Mitch Hicks
“The Meter Is Running…” by L. K. Thayer
as the hip get hipper
and the lines grow deeper
time creeps closer
breathing
down my neck
I haven’t seen Jack
since he fetched
a pail of water
and I keep getting
thirsty
for someone
to get me
and the clock
keeps tick-talking
and will somebody
please
call me a taxi
because
I swear…
the beat of the street
goes on and on
but
New York
will never
be the same
again right
and
it’s just wrong
All Rights Reserved
© 2009