The Last Word

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

Regular readers may recall that, in my late 60's, I had a bad fall that saw me housebound for several months and having to deal with a nasty clot in my left leg. I made a reasonable recovery, however, and am thankful I can get out and about again, albeit with the aid of a walking stick. Last year (my 73rd) I developed venous problems, resulting in a very painful ulcer on the same leg. I endured, persevered, and eventually came through it all still managing to take my cue from Monty Python and  keep looking on the bright side of life.

Lately, so much has been going wrong that, given certain health issues as well,  I even began to wonder if it was time to let go, and hive the Grim Reaper carte blanche do with me what he will.

Yet again, an inner voice chastised me mercilessly for being negative and demanded I find a way to recover a more positive consciousness. Eventually, I succeeded; not out of the woods altogether yet...but getting there, resolved to give old age a good run for its money, and let love have the last word.

Love, of course, comes in all shapes and forms; human relationships, bonding with nature and the arts, an affinity with the animal world including, naturally, our pets ... 

Nothing and no one has a monopoly on love, whether or not we subscribe to any religion.

Peace Be, regardless of any socio-cultural-religious differences, and let's work at being kinder to and more understanding of each other as, each of us in our own way, needs must runs the gauntlet life throws down. 

As my old English teacher. 'Jock' Rankin warned many years ago, "Never assume anything of anyone until you know them well enough, and that can take a lifetime."

THE LAST WORD

Old age,

hovering like some glittering sword

just above my head

inviting the unkindest cut of all

(before my time)

grown worse in later years, defaulting

to tears

Escape,

promising an eternal peace and rest

from the complications

of everyday existence, made worse

by new technology,

progress, (inevitably) leaving some of us

behind

Streets,

living nightmare, zombies doubling

for human beings,

glued to mobile phones, laptops,

whatever mind games

best distracting from the Here-and Now’s 

demands

Often,

(like me) needing a seat on train or bus,

fishing for eyes

alert to someone else’s struggling

to stay on top of things, only catching sight

of headphones

Old age,

an everyday see-saw, few roundabouts

and swings in play;

ups and downs, sometimes sick

at heart, always having to push down harder

on positive thinking

Memory,

fading fast, the sweeter ones sure to last

If only in part

where the human heart persists

in saving best for last, halcyon days in no hurry

to pass 

Death,  

hovering like the most beautiful thing,

barely out of reach,

and just as well since temptation

no match for a mind-body-spirit set on rescue

mode

Life,

worth every convincing heartbeat for years,

no matter its defaulting

to tears of pleasure, pain, whatever

till I’m up for leaving this mad world, giving love

the last word

Copyright R.N. Taber 2020