beyond youth
brown spots appear,
my bones steely cold,
joints threaded
like rusted
iron.
beneath patina skin
water flows,
and I sip life
another
day.
Poem © 2010 by R. Burnett Baker
Photo courtesy of Willow at Magpie Tales
6 hours ago
Poignant prose. I felt it in my bones. I love your word art and the imagery to go with it.
ReplyDeletedon't know what happened to my first comment! Lost in the ether, so glad I came back to tell you I was really impressed by your magpie, so spare yet full of real guts.
ReplyDeletereference to your comment at home: Ummm... there are limericks I cannot publish, except over the pen name 'Anon', and some have been!
Or as my father has always said when asked how he's doing, "Still vertical."
ReplyDeleteYou said it very nicely.
Profound and hauntingly beautiful, Rick. Your word choice evokes a very earthy and vivid imagery. It reminds of that brilliant Walcott quote, "Sit. Feast on your life".
ReplyDeleteNice poem. It's surprising how quickly we reach the crest of that hill and start down the other side. Sort of creeps up on a person. lol
ReplyDeleteVery well put, Rick.
ReplyDeleteAn amazing, beautiful extended image! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, sometimes I feel creaky & achy with spots & rusty joints. I can identify. Well done.
ReplyDeleteBravo indeed
ReplyDeleteloved this
and it spoke to me
yes, sip life
Poignant. For sure, another sip of day is a good thing. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteThanks to you all for your kind words. I got home today after 11 hours on my feet, on concrete, walking, running, climbing ladders, and damn if I didn't hurt! Well, that's my job every day... Who knew that retail management could be such a pain?
ReplyDeleteBut this photo just made me laugh and at once, I became those pipes, and rusty elbow. Hum....a little Navel Jelly, perhaps?? ( Nowadays they call that plastic surgery ). A new knee? Hip? Feet?
Ok. Enough. A cold beer, and a half hour of attitude adjustment. Love your comments and look forward to reading your posts!
Cheers,
Rick
Especially like those last lines, they hold something that travels past hope and into inner strength.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
So well written - I think we all feel this.
ReplyDeleteA timely reminder to try and shake off the rust and keep our joints moving.
ReplyDeleteLovely Magpie, really well written and a great attitude to life.
ReplyDeletesounds just like my grandma. . . she keeps going right along! great magpie.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. "and I sip life another day"...I love the notion of sipping life.
ReplyDeleteIf we take tiny sips, will we live longer? Loved your Magpie!!!,
ReplyDeleteBrigid,Patience, Willow, Helen... Sometimes I think that small sips of life will make it seem a bit longer. Not sure about that, but ask me again in about 30 years!!
ReplyDeleteThank you all for visiting!
Rick
I too "sip life another day."
ReplyDelete...and i sip life another day...what a beautiful end to your poem
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the prompt this week, I also thought of my aching knees! The old joints just aren't what they used to be. Your poem describes it perfectly... and beautifully.
ReplyDeleteDespite obstacles there's life!
ReplyDeleteReminds me of a lady I knew who told me that at her age she wouldn't even buy ripe bananas. Wonderful job with this poem.
ReplyDeleteanother day is all we can ask...and live for...each day. nice mag!
ReplyDeleteso true, i can relate! excellent magging!
ReplyDeleteYes... they have a life too! So what if they are old! And the story applies to us as well...
ReplyDeleteA lovely read! Very thought provoking...