POETRY JAM - OLD AGE

“Old age, believe me, is a good and pleasant thing. It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator.” - Confucius

Poetry Jam has enjoined followers to write a poem: “…whatever your age, write away about the ever-old topics of age, aged or aging.” This topic has made me think about it on many occasions in the past, and you can see what I wrote here, and here, and here.

As it is Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, reflecting on old age becomes all that much easier as the year slows into its decline and ultimate fall. Here is my offering for this week:

Autumn Evening

As evening falls so softly, cold
Memory’s scent I follow,
And life grows dark and old.

Leaves die, as they turn to gold
The sound of voices hollow.
As evening falls so softly, cold

I try to break its stranglehold;
My spirits fall and ebb, so low –
And life grows dark and old.

I try to be so resolute and bold
To make my song again to flow
As evening falls so softly, cold…

The wood attacked, consumed by mould
Decay eats into it so slow,
And life grows dark and old.

My dreams to highest bidder sold
Love’s ghosts in sadness wallow:
As evening falls so softly, cold
And life grows dark and old.