Older

A memo of sorts, about getting older

 Older

By FlatDaddy

Days lumber into nibs

    nights creak forever

Good times erase themselves with lost memories

    bad ones multiply in puddles

Pain shakes hands with madness

    while elbows wobble

Rain falls in my closet

    where holes nap on rusted hangers

Reflection, afraid to show its face

    lies flatly on the table

Feeling numbs, sight dims,

    hearing speaks with irreverent silence

taste dulls words once known to shine

    and, at last, memory ...

   

   

   

Reviews

[James J FitzGerald]

good times erase themselves with lost memories
bad ones multiply in puddles

Rain falls in my closet

great images!

[FlatDaddy]

Thanks, James, I appreciate your kind words.

[Thomas W Case]

Gritty, lived-in, and quietly devastating.
This feels like time rotting from the inside out—each image another bruise that remembers even when the speaker can’t.

[FlatDaddy]

You shower me with dirty compliments, Thomas, they hurt -- but it's not me they hurt. It's was. They tell me you understand so well. Thank you.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

You not dead yet though ! you are probably only a freckle past 60 lol. (As I am though I’m on the older end of 60s now!)

I like this one but it reminds me of a very old man or woman in a nursing home sad and just living on their memories. I doubt that is you at present you sprite youngen geez you probably younger than me lol 😂
Your poem is beautiful It’s well written and relatable especially liked the puddles metaphor.

Old age i feel is a badge wear it with dignity I say we made it !

We have outlived a lot of our mates who passed now (3 for me) and hope to live some more good times be it a park walk or a cruise or a country drive or a movie with popcorn and ice top which I’m not supposed to have but will !

Don’t take my take on yours as criticism as it’s not take it as a pep up talk nothing more

[FlatDaddy]

Hey, Julie, thanks for the praise and good chear. I'm glad you liked it. But I hate to disillusion you; I turned 78 in October. So I am damned well entitled to piss and moan about anything now. I've been looking forward to this for 50 years! Besides, anyone, especially poets, have the right to be morose once in a while. Happy Holidays!

[Samuel Dickens]

Oh, man, what a bummer. Shall I shoot you, then hang myself? C'mon and get a grip. Old farts can party hardy, and all we need is some strong coffee. (Well, topless dancers could help)

[FlatDaddy]

Sorry I bummed you out, but If you've got 'em, trot 'em out, Sammy boy! Just make sure they're not OUR age (brrr!)

[Samuel Dickens]

Oh, nooooo!

[ETERNITY]

That's beautiful
....................

[FlatDaddy]

Thank you, but now I'm not satisfied with it so I'm taking it down for now.

[ETERNITY]

Nobody knows the true meaning except you...if that helps at all.

[FlatDaddy]

Well, I made a few changes, minor, but I feel better about it!

[ETERNITY]

Yes, it does seem to read clearer.
Good write!

[FlatDaddy]

Thanks. Got another new, too, and thinking about posting one in French.

[ETERNITY]

I know a "little" French (:
Oui ?

[FlatDaddy]

ah! Juste une petite quantité.

[ETERNITY]

Just a little bit. Not as much as you. That is beautiful! I love French.

[FlatDaddy]

That little bit? I got it off a translator ap online. I've forgotten almost all the French I learned in school (and that was quite little).

[ETERNITY]

It reads beautifully, anyway. Good job copy-pasting lolssss.

[ETERNITY]

you look even more French now... The greatest happiness in life is the conviction that we are loved;