Old age

Jan Millward takes a tongue in cheek look at old age, and decides it’s not for her!

Old age

I look at my face in the mirror,
But surely that cannot be me?
When did I get grey hair and wrinkles
Aren’t I still young and carefree?

My head wants to go on adventures,
My body says no I’m too old,
I want to go splashing in puddles,
But my carer says I’ll catch a cold.

I thought that old age only happened
To people much older than me,
But it seems that my body knew better
And developed a dodgy old knee.

And my hip it just seemed to follow
And it creaked and it groaned every time
I tried to go faster than normal,
It never did that in my prime.

And isn’t it odd how folk mumble,
They can’t seem to speak clear at all,
And the social called round to fit handrails
They’re sure that without them I’ll fall.

And why can’t I read all the news print?
It seems to be shrinking each week,
It can’t be my eyesight that’s fading,
But the outlook is looking quite bleak.

I’m not sure I like what is happening,
The future it fills me with dread,
My teeth are a faded old memory
They now live in a glass by my bed.

But my head thinks I’m only just twenty,
So I’ll hide all the mirrors away,
I’ll leave getting old for the others,
Whilst there’s time left to get out and play!

Jan Millward©