Friday, November 29, 2024

Bare-footed

*Life's Still a Basket of Longans*



 

9

Bare-footed


I took off my shoes

I’ve been wearing shoes

you know, for more than decades

today I want to walk 

on the wet grass

and dig into squishy mud.




Thursday, November 28, 2024

Loving the Rain

 *Life's Still a Basket of Longans*




8

Loving the Rain



Someone offered an umbrella

But I was feeling young

The rain silvered my greying hair

moistened my dry skin

tasted sweet too on my lips.




Tuesday, November 26, 2024

The Long and Short of Ageing

*Life's Still a Basket of Longans*




7

The Long and Short of Ageing



There was a time

when we walked tall

then the creaks came

and the stoop too.


It can’t be

the longer we live

the shorter we get.


I stake my prop

on this and that

I chase

I stretch for

and so the taller I get.



Sunday, November 24, 2024

Did They Say

*Life's Still a Basket of Longans*

 



6

Did They Say



Did they say

You get wiser 

as you get older


Did they say

You can fumble 

as you get older


Did they say

You eat simply 

as you get older


Do I have to take it 

the way they say?


I want it my way

I want it as I say

I’ll be wise

in my way.



Saturday, November 23, 2024

One at A Time

*Life's Still a Basket of Longans*



 

5

One at A Time



Yesterday was bad

No one says today will be better


Here, take the good old broom

One sweep, at a time

to the dustpan

to the bin


For today

One pain at a time

One relief at a time.




Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Sometimes

*Life's Still a Basket of Longans* 




3

Sometimes



Sometimes my heart

is drowned in the rain

is scorched by the sun

is blown to bits by the wind 


These are times

I hold my heart in

And I don’t feel too good


I want my heart to race

I want my heart to sing

I need to look for it

to take wings again.


Monday, November 11, 2024

I Can Still Dance

*Life's Still a Basket of Longans*




















2
I Can Still Dance



I can still dance

to the mirror

to my humming


I will dance

Awkward it may be

whilst laughters

down me

rolling

on

the floor.


I will dance

till breathlessness

till creaking joints

take me

into

tiredness

and, ah!

flat-out

sleep!




Thursday, November 7, 2024

Second Chances

*Life's Still a Basket of Longans*





Second Chances



What finish line?

Don’t mention it


Say, there are

second chances

Not to race to win

But to walk,

stride, or sashay

to my rhythm

my melody.





Tuesday, November 5, 2024

"Second Chances and Silly Me"




Hands



I

When there are no more hands 

to hold mine

And the journey is still long


I may be alone, perhaps not

I may forget, sometimes


It will not be about hanging on

It will not be about slipping into

It will be ageing consciously.



II

Path of life runs long

sometimes rough

Walk, sway or swagger


Ageing can walk alone

unafraid, confident

when fears not death


When fancy beckons

Answer it, take it

Sweet butterfly life


Age is bloom

when years age 

with grace.



III

I will learn

Even now, I will learn

as I move on


Day to day

Gratitude and humility

to guide


Too much thinking

Too much care

A living lost


Lone heart

Lone one

Never lone spirit


As far as heart can hold

As far as dream will lead

Let it, freely.



IV

Living the real age

Living the truth

Lies hurt


Truth be told

Truth be bold

Purity of intent


By design I weave

and evolve

in the cycle of life


What’s tear, what’s rust

Gems or dregs

Impressions of age


This is my story

What is yours?

No explanation required.



V

When the journey is still long

I will seek colours

to live well, to live full.


Will there be hands to hold mine

Will there be hands to break

stumbles and falls


I may forget

I may be alone

Who will hold my hand?

I will remember I can reach out first.