(Why 67? All will be revealed here. Pop along and read the prompt, but actually I've chickened out. For "being 67" read "reaching the 60s". And make some allowances: I struggle to remember back that far.)
I had expected fireworks,
signs in the sky,
deep rumblings from the earth,
showers of blazing meteors,
Gods vying with each other,
vortex after vortex:
something that significant
to mark the end of sex.
It was an end-of-world scenario,
the usual syndrome:
prophesied to strike at 40,
then a decade later,
then again at sixty...
but still the dragon went on breathing fire,
would not lie quietly down.
Yet signs in the sky
and vortices
did manage to appear on cue -
nowt to do with my libido, though.
The day would come, I reasoned, when the world
would roll on sadly gladly madly without me.
The idea was not new,
had been around, been kicked about,
tried on for size in idle play,
but given no attention - until then.
Then it forced itself upon me,
its features veiled in shame
to keep its nature hid.
I did not mind the sun and moon,
the big sweep of creation:
I could not visualize
not being part
of my continuing world.
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17 comments:
Spot on as usual, Dave. There's a lot I could say, but I'll think it instead. :)
As always, you face difficult subjects without compromise!
nice words...well written :)
SIXTY seven Dave? You should be so lucky!
Dave,
At least we have something in common. At 67 and still swinging. Nothing like looking back and savoring the past glories with fondness. And not just that you also said,
'but still the dragon went on breathing fire,would not lie quietly down'...
hear,hear! well said, buddy!
Hank
Dave..as usual its mesmerising.... I am completely fascinated with your poetry.
There is an award for you on my blog.
Think positive. I'm glad the dragon won't lie down.
I've got 11 years to go before i'm 67 and hope the dragon won't lie down then either :-).
Wonderful piece of writing as always. Dare I say that age is just a number?
Jenny
Now I shall be forever wondering! Thanks, though, for visiting and for flagging it up.
120 Socks
Yes, I did find it difficult, although I hadn't expected to. Had the same experiance with today's post. Writing always surprises you, I find.
The Weaver of Grass
Ah, well, don't tell anyone, but I'm actually 53. We both are, Doreen and I. We married 53 years ago and our lives began again then, so in our re-booted lives we're only 53.
kaykuala
Yup, Amen to that - and long may he go on doing so! Thanks.
Rachna
That's very generous of you. Sincere thanks - and for all your support.
vivinfrance
Yup, me too.
Windsmoke
I'm sure it won't. All power to you.
Bee
Yes, thanks for that. There was a time when I saw it as a percentage of my life expectation. (But that was always difficult as at 5 I hadn't been expected to make 6.)Then I tried rewriting it to a different number base. EG in duodecimals 67 is 57. But the wedding idea works best - see Weraver of Grass, above.
i love your spirit and voice in your poetry...it is very youthful and certainly we don't want to miss that part in our life....
keep that dragon breathing fire ~
Here's to dragons...
Your last stanza sums up what I imagine most people feel. How can the world continue to exist without me?
Yes. Me too. Although I have not expressed the subject with such courage and honesty. I tip my hat to you. Thanks for putting words to what I often feel.
Poignant & honest. But it brings to mind a funny (to me, not to my brother story). My father, after my mother's death, started seeing a woman. She was 80. He ws 67. He came by the pharmacy where my brother worked (he was the pharmacist - chemist?) & asked Joe about viagra. My brother was mortified. I was HIGHLY amused.
Dave, I like the anticipations leading to reality checks that become part of life's balance.
I love the openness, the honesty in your poetry. Kudos to you! And yes, it is hard to think of one's world continuing without one; but each day we ARE faced with signs of our own mortality
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