Getting Old Is Not Amusing - A Poem
82Getting old has its drawbacks and comforts, too!
Old age - better than the alternative!
The best revenge we have upon the smugness of youth is knowing that the young will be old someday, too!
My father-in-law used to say, “Getting old is hell, but it’s better than the alternative!”
I hope you enjoy this poem about growing old!
Getting Old Is Not Amusing
Failing eyes and fallen arches,
No more hikes and no more marches.
Taste buds dulled, my ears are muted,
Signs of age can’t be refuted.
Once I heard the bluebirds singing–
What you say? My ears are ringing!
Aging skin with sagging wrinkles,
Lost my sparkle, lost my twinkle.
More gray hairs and bald spots showing,
Yet in places hairs are growing!
All the ways my body’s losing—
Getting old is not amusing.
Now I face my mirror knowing.
Youth is fleeting– Yes, it’s going!
Each new day brings creaks and twinges,
To my body’s rusty hinges.
Then there are the senior lapses
When my old brain’s tired synapses
Don’t fire at all, or fire askew.
(Who is that guy? And who are you? )
There’s no way that I can soften,
Senior moments coming often.
My body, brain and mind are losing,
Getting old is not amusing!
You may laugh while I am crying,
But you’ll see as time goes flying,
Old age creeps up unrelenting
Then it’s you who’ll be lamenting,
“Was I not young just yesterday?
Without a sign of sag or gray?”
Soon you’ll find, despite your raging.
Wrinkles, lines and signs of aging!
Then amid the ringing, buzzing,
When your brain’s misfiring, fuzzing,
When dis-functions start appearing,
(No, it’s not just sight and hearing!)
When your sprightly step is slowing
When your body parts are going
When it’s YOU who’s losing, losing,
Will you find old age amusing?
You don't have to be young to be beautiful
Getting Old Is Better Than the Alternative!
I recently did a photo gallery on abandoned old cars. Many of them are rusting away and disintegrating where they stand. (Sound familiar?) Yet, in their own way, they are beautiful and the ravages of weather and age has made them into sculptures more than junk.
This made me think about the similarities these old abandoned vehicles have to our aging populations. It seems that as people age, they are sometimes less respected, even considered “junk” by the younger generation. Sadly enough, if you live to be 100 you’re venerated, but if you are only 89, you may be considered a burden. That too has a similarity to material goods that are valued as antiques if they have survived for 100 years, but often have little value if they haven’t.
Appreciate the beauty of age
Then there are buildings. Anyone who has taken a road trip has seen old buildings, tumbled down barns and houses that have been abandoned to nature. What makes one old 100 year old building worth restoring and another a pile of firewood? It’s a question that historians will surely rush in to answer, but, in my mind, some of the aging buildings are beautiful in their own way, more beautiful than they would be if they were restored to their youthful appearance. If only the elderly were perceived that way!
One thing about youth is guaranteed: It too will pass!
“When your sprightly step is slowing
When your body parts are going
When it’s YOU who’s losing, losing,
Will you find old age amusing?”
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Copyright ©2011 Stephanie Henkel All rights reserved.
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All you can do is laugh
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Aging Gracefully
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Frank - Well I definitely know a lot of old wise***s! (present company excepted!) I think you'll do fine!
Simply divine! Yup, Im there, and I'm not laughing...I just love your take on it!
My daughter told me that once you hit thirty, you start decomposing. It is a scary thought. I can already feel the effects of my decomposition, although hopefully I have a lot of time before the process is complete.
No_Clue - Getting old is NOT amusing, but we can't do anything about it but laugh! Thanks for commenting!
Millionaire Tips - Ahh, don't you love the bits of wisdom that comes out of young people? I think you might have a few years before total decomposition sets in... :)
Voted Up, Awesome, Beautiful and Funny! This is such an amazing poem! I loved every bit of it. Clearly you are still quite young, having the ability to create such superb poetry: evidently your synapses must be firing on all cylinders (a mixed metaphor - maybe I'm starting to decompose here?!)
Giselle Maine - Well, I'm not so sure about the brain firing on all cylinders...those senior moments keep happening! Thanks so much for your very nice comments! I'm glad you enjoyed the poem about old age, and I did enjoy hearing from you, too!
I loved this poem. But it sounds to me that your body is getting old while your heart stays young. I know some days I feel 30ish again but then others I feel 100. Keep on excersing that brain... :-)
I am reminded of the George Carlon bit on aging. When we are children we go in months. (eg. I'm 21/2). Then at 30 we TURN 30 -like a carton of milk that has gone bad. It's all downhill from there until you are at an age where most of your contemporaries are dead, and then your age is a status symbol.
Rosemary50 - I'm glad you mentioned the real secret of happiness as we age– staying young at heart! HubPages is a great brain exerciser, isn't it? Thanks for stopping by, and hope you're feeling 30 today! :)
FloraBreenRobison - I've never heard the one about TURNing 30 like a carton of milk gone bad! But it's definitely the attitude of some under-30 types. As for me, turning 30 would be like going back to my childhood! :) Thanks for your insight on old age - I guess I haven't made it to the age where it's a status symbol!
This one is better than my Tick Tock one! I'm jealous. But I have more to come. At least until the alternative hits.
Austinstar - I love your "Tick Tock" poem, too! Getting older...great minds think along the same lines as we sit and rock...
Yes, getting old is not amusing because we see death and decadence approaching. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
Vinaya - Hmmm...then I'll just have to look the other way... :)
Loved this!!! I knew, just from the title and the fact that you were the author, that I was going to be in for a real treat and this hub definitely lived up to my expectations!
Your mother looks beautiful and has the right idea about aging.
Voted up across the board.
Happyboomernurse - I guess you know I'm not a serious poet like so many of the talented people here, but this was fun to write. I did have my mother in mind when I wrote this poem about getting old. She did love books and cats -not sure in which order! Thanks for your comments- as always, I love hearing from you!
This poem is great! You are right, sometimes people don't treat the elderly with basic respect. I'm glad you can express yourself so beautifully and with humor. And don't worry-- I admit that sometimes I laugh when my grandmother mishears me, but I do have the utmost respect for her 85 years!
Stephaniedas - The older I get the more I regret some of the thoughts I had about getting older! Laughter is contagious - I'm sure your grandmother loves to hear you laugh and knows that you have much respect for her. Thanks for sharing your thoughts here!
Your mother's photo is just so lovely.
What a treat, a wonderful poem -
voting up and all the buttons!
An up and awesome read. I especially enjoyed the thoughts about how old "things" are valued, while old people are not. I posted a link to here from our Not So Old Broads page on Facebook. :)
Sally's Trove - The older I get, the more I think about attitudes about getting older - and the more my own attitude evolves!
Thanks so much for stopping by and for your comments. Thank you for the link! I love your FB site, too! It's nice to know other "Not So Old Broads!"
Movie Master - Thank you for saying that about my mother. She did have beautiful white hair and a sweet nature, and this picture is very much how I remember her. Thanks for stopping by and for your nice comments about my poem!
Great poem and very good advice. That's a good way to look at aging and youth, that the young are getting older too!
Arusho - It's funny that when we're young, we're impatient for time to move more quickly, and never think that one day it will have moved too fast. Thanks for stopping in to comment!
Beautifully crafted. Check out my poems too!
Stephanie, this is beautiful. It is so sad how forgotten our older generation is in this country. I loved in Japan for a few years and was stunned by the contrast- the senior population is revered and highly respected there, as it should be. I don't know what went wrong here in the US....
Cow Skeleton Hill - Thanks for stopping by to visit my hub and comment.
Wordscribe - Many other cultures seem to have a great respect for the wisdom and experience of their elderly that we do not find here. It's sad. Thank you for stopping by to share your thoughts!
I loved your poem. It was heartfelt from someone who may be getting older on the outside. You have a great spirit. Your poem made me laugh as well as cry, all so true!
Hi I like your poem very much.
It is interestingly witty yet conveys an important message.
Keep writing :)
Hi Stephanie,
Oh I can so relate to this poem of yours!!! It is funny but also contains much truth. Your beautiful mother looks great in the photo relaxing with that book and cat on her lap. Also liked your words about the old rusted cars, buildings and antiques. Beauty comes in all forms. Up votes!
Hi Peggy - Oh, on some days I feel older than others and am definitely not amused by getting older! In her later years, my mother was often found with a book and a cat - when I think of her now, that's how I picture her. Thanks so much for stopping by and for your comments!
Alphagirl - Thanks so much for your heartwarming comment! Sorry I missed responding to it earlier - don't know how I did that, but I really appreciate your visit!
samanthajae - Thanks so much for your kind comments! I'm so glad you enjoyed the poem and I hope it gave you a smile!
Hi Stephanie, oh how I loved this poem! Its so true. I work with some older people fairly often, and hear them talk all the time about all kinds of things. I think its good for everyone, no matter their age, to consider those that "seem" so different from them, but really are not!
Its so true, we ALL will be there one day, if we are lucky! I love old buildings and old cars and old things. I like how you talked about the value of life, and how some may not think much say, of an 89 year old. Your poem made me laugh in parts too, like "who is that guy, and who are you?" Voted up, awesome, funny, and interesting. Thanks for sharing another great hub.
Oceansnsunsets - We can only laugh at the discomforts of old age as we don't seem to have too many choices about the advancing years - take 'em or leave 'em! Thanks for your insightful comments!
Very enjoyable I'll be back
Kay
KDee411 - Thanks for stopping in to read my poem on Getting Old!
This was really fun -- reading this poem and then your prose on old cars and buildings. You've said it all so well. Thanks for SHARING.
Dahlia flower - Glad you were amused by my poem! Thanks for the comment and the share!
Great! Finding middle age to be a bit disconcerting as well! Voted up.
Cosmic Bus - I think that no matter how old you are, it's an adjustment to move into the next age group! Just enjoy the moment - middle age will seem very young in a few years! :)
I'm laughing, yes it's funny, but it's not fun. I love Stephanie,isn't that the truth middle age does seem young. Very funny.
Very cleaver poem. Vote up +
Kay
KDee411 - All we can do about advancing age is keep our good humor! Glad you enjoyed the poem. Thanks for reading and voting! :)
I loved the poem and this hub. And it's so cute, I want to have someone read it, I will be sure to direct them to your hub. Absolutely beautiful and I'm sure the next time I see a rusty old car, or a half torn down building I think of this hub!
RedSoxFan - There seems to be a fine line between antique, vintage and just plain old! I like to think of myself as vintage! Haha... thanks for reading and commenting!
Nice poem ..I enjoyed reading it
Htodd - Glad you enjoyed my poem about getting old - hope you were amused! :)
Frank Atanacio Level 8 Commenter 6 months ago
I vote and awesome.. old is wisdom right? if not.. damn I'm going to be lost in my old age