Max thanks appreciated interested in that mirror thing -sometimes I do not
recognise myself if sort caught off guard!!
-----Original Message-----
From: Max Richards
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 3:30 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: 77 + 'Advice to the Old'
On Mar 14, 2016, at 3:37, Patrick McManus <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
> today old grumps is 77 thanks for all those poetry thingies posted over
> the year cheers P older and grumpier possible wiser ?
Ah, Patrick!
I shall bring forward just for you a part of my sequence in progress soon to
be circulated, ‘My Chinese Phase.’
This one’s for you, young chap -
(I was born in 1937) …
Max in Seattle
14. Old Poet’s Advice to the Old
Walk out daily briskly,
even if slowly back.
Keep your eyes peeled
for those who smile,
whether or not you
manage to smile back.
Watch the skies, their
changing expressions,
for fear, as mother
used often to say,
you ‘catch your death’
from sudden downpour.
Wear a hat against
both sun and wet
and a non-slip boot
on each old foot.
Watch, when your feet
stumble, but don’t
(let’s hope) quite fall -
underfoot may be
where freshest green
and blossom teem,
fragrant as thyme
or camomile. Smile.
Drink and be merry.
Tomorrow may be dry.
Remember yesterday,
savour Memory.
When asked: ‘How was
your weekend?’, have
ready some answer your
questioner can admire.
He or she well may
be old like us one day
(if lucky!), waking
in pain to a surprised
face in the unfair
truthful mirror:
‘now I look like that
old man - I bet
he learned to avoid
mirrors! My turn now,
bring out the floppy hat,
hide the wrinkled brow,
accept being unsteady
and painfully slow.’
This journey must end -
the further the better -
try every detour whatever.
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