Aging                           

My gran-dotter say, how do you feel?
I say, “pretty damn gud, was’ de deal?
She say you pushin’ big nine-o
I say, hon, is not good time to go
Is a cupel mor’ years befor de big keel!
        And,
My VA quack sez my BP’s high
Too much salt, he sez, tha’s why
He say, any day I catch a stroke
(And I don’t tink this old fart joke)
I say, OK, I give a try.
        I hear,
War mart sell BP machine, OK?
I dink is fifty I have to pay
Get it home, looks easy to do
Holy scheissen, ---one eighty two!
And you dink you had a crappy day?
        So,
Da VA put me on a cell phone leesh
I gotta call and speak my piece;
“Did you take you meds today?”
Then, “punch in one, or you can say,
Yes or no”, (this way they teach)
        Lady say,
Like “’tro your sal’ shaker oud da trash”
I say to phone, “go kiss my ass”
Any way, I ‘trow out de soups
Dey in de lousy sodium groups
She say, all good stuff, I gotta pass.
        Take,
Gravy, ice cream; all gotta go
And, no more salt, on de boil potato;
He say, “eat oatmeal, every day”
I say , “you wanna live dis way?”
He say, “is up to you”, and I say “hell no”
        Then,
‘Bout two AM, I come wide awake
Big toes stiff like garden rake
I get outta bed, but pain too much
Fall down de floor, try to touch
My toes; maybe give good shake.
        OK
Finly gat up but not so far
Got to gat to de friggin’ car;
Gat far as de sofa, better rest
Try to tink wha’ might be best
Maybe call Corky; he ain’t far
        And,
Was last I think, before I doze,
That no good, ‘cause I suppose,
It middle of nite, all guys asleep
So I pass out, wid out a peep
Not dinkin’ about de big hot toes.           
        Now
Is sis oclock and de sun she shining
And wid it I’m see-in a silver lining;
My toes are all like dey was before
My old skinni ass hit de dam floor
So now, dear God, can I quit dis whining?       

INVICTUS PLUS


Out of the night that covers me,
    Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
    For my unconquerable soul.

        Friends that have gone before me
            Taught and led me in many ways;
        Sufferings shared, friendship free,
            Eyes that spoke through tobacco haze.

In the full clutch of circumstance
    I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoning of chance
    My head is bloody, but unbowed.

        Pain is pain, and we know its wrath,
            But finite in it’s wanderings
        (Voices whisper, “careful in the bath”)
            Also in cleaning; especially in laundering.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
    Looms the horror of the shade
And yet the menace of the years
    Finds and shall find me unafraid.

        And ahead, coming slowly, the unknown
            Final answer to an un-asked question;
        Like the toppling of the over grown
            Comes the answer to our indiscretion.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate.
I am the captain of my soul.

Where Are You?

“Hi, jus leevin Dunkin
Gotta run, tk in morn.”
“Lyin basta, U over at Lenas
Watchin more stupid porn.”

Reggie shook his head, and
Hit the button to End;
Thinking’ “why do I do this
To another good old friend.”

That was a dozen texts ago;
They trailed him around all day;
 Half sent silly pictures
One sent a message, “let’s pray.”

Reg remember being so excited
The day he got his pad
Who knew he’d never read
Another good book---how sad!

One of these Days

“One of these days”
Get’s closer all the time;
Some organ or another
May just stop on a dime

Your balance is lost
At the top of the steps
(Do you remember
When you counted reps?)

Ever heard of people
Who went to bed?
Saying, “fuck it!”,
And woke up dead?

But, the humidity is down,
The sun is shining;
The Sox won again
So, why am I whining?