What exactly,
is a senior citizen?
Early bird special eater
trousers at the belly button,
tufts of hair poking out the ears?
Wrinkled skin, yellowing newspaper,
headlines of the past written all over?
Shuffling walks and insulin injections,
jogging and worrying about soap opera situations?
Cataract shades, and bad joint gel,
bent over backs gardening,
and grouchy old fist-shaking, cussing like hell?
Gently handing out cookies for kids,
part time cake-bakers, baby-sitters, family fussers?
Leastwise,
age is refinement, age is decay,
and it’s the road we’re all headed on-
eighty six thousand, four hundred seconds a day.
A senior citizen then remains undefined:
their golden years just need to be mined.
Author notes
Contest Choice: Older Americans Month
A contest entry
- May New Member Contest Hosted by AP Greeters by AP Greeters.
600 points, ended June 5, 60 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think?
Comments
1 - 11 of 11
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welcome to allpoetry
thank you for sharing this with us here, I think you told a great story with this, being old is hard to define, other than the life time of use on our faces and bodies. and you right it does need to be minded, good luck in the contest and keep up the writing,
cheers
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Welcome to allpoetry
Cute. A little bit of humor in this. I really liked the last line. The imagery of that line is very good. Nice flow. Structure could use some tightening up. More even lines, but still good job.
I encourage you to keep writing to read and comment.
God Bless
Tammy
Site Greeter -
Welcome to AllPoetry!
I really loved the third last line of this poem - the addition of the specific is great
the ending was also lovely, thank you for entering!
Welcome to the site, I hope that you enjoy your time here at AllPoetry!
Polly
Site Greeter -
Welcome to Allpoetry and thank you for entering the contest
I liked the humour in this piece, the stereotypes that most people think and that as a society we place on the elderly.
I appreciated the ending, you did well to write about how we are all headed in the same direction. The "age is decay" was a vivid thought.
Welcome to Allpoetry and thank you for entering our contest
I hope that you enjoy the site, and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask
Good luck!
I encourage you to comment others and generate activity for yourself!
Good job, keep writing and best of luck to you in the contest!
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Welcome to Allpoetry
A senior citizen then remains undefined:
their golden years just need to be mined. .. my fav lines
very nice approach towards the contest prompt.
thanks for entering and best of luck. if you need any assistance please ask me
regards
Abdulla -
Welcome to AllPoetry
Please place the option used in the Authors Notes as per the rules
I'd hate to see this disqualified for something minor.
I really like this whole poem; the last two lines are my favourite while the whole poem overall is strong, honest and something few both to speak about
Excellent!
Thank You for Your Entry & Best of Luck
I hope you enjoy AllPoetry and continue to share your words with us
♥
Stay safe
~Manda
Site Greeter -
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thanks for letting me know about the option and the author's note inclusion. I appreciate your comments too.
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Perceptive lines--I must say that I hugely enjoy telling people, at 63, that I captain bicycles built for three, four, and five riders, doing 20 or more miles a day, and five times (two times by myself) all the way from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC.
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Welcome to Allpoetry
I love your take on the prompt! While it may seem that most senior citizens fit this description at times, they are a wealth of knowledge. My dad always said to treasure your older relatives, because they will one day be gone.
Thanks for the laugh, and your entry
Laura
Site Greeter -
Welcome To Allpoetry
Welcome to AllPoetry, poet! Hope you are finding your way around the site in good nature!
This is a poem of truthfulness, but senior citizens are much more than this, they are a treasure chest of historical information, even if they can't drive!
Best of luck to you in the contest and future writing!
Blessed Be,
Jeremy
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Welcome to AllPoetry!
This was a very enjoyable write, and so true!
Best of luck in the contest, and if you have any questions about the site, please don't hesitate to ask!!
Maria
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