Tag: old age

Now That I’ve Reached a Certain Age (Part Four)

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Haibun, Poetry5 Comments 


I'm getting a better understanding of what life is like at 1:30 AM— 3:30 AM— 5 AM. At least what it's like between the warmth of the bed covers and the shriveling cold of porcelain. Between those stumbling adventures, comes a lot of time spent staring into the darkness of what if, what was and what might be. Wrestling with those decisions made, the paths taken, and wondering where the paths not taken might have led. Now that I've reached a certain age, I've become aware of each breath and the sigh of relief that comes in knowing that the last one was not—the last one. It seems that each minute slides by just a bit faster than the one before it. I know that I can't afford to waste a single one.
seconds steal away
til they become a lifetime—
how quick they escape

Now That I’ve Reached a Certain Age

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Free Verse, Poetry3 Comments 
Now that I’ve reached 
a certain age
I’m afraid
every ring of the phone
every knock on the door,

Might be telling me 
someone ain’t on this earth
no more.

Dropped stone cold dead
while lying on the couch
watching reruns of NCIS.

Cops rummaging through,
the mess. Looking for clues, 
of who did what and,
who knew who.

But a bit excited too
that maybe one of the kids 
or the neighbor or
a stranger selling bibles,

Dropped by 
just to say hi
and I end up
having an hour-long
talk 

About how
my warranty has expired
or why I’m always 
so tired anymore

Plan for the Future…

On By Jerry BrothertonIn flash, Short Stories23 Comments


His cell phone has a hinge. He’s been driving the same minivan for 15 years. His dinner is water and a bologna sandwich. He has a twenty inch TV without cable. Every dime scrutinized, every penny saved. Never uses credit. Nothing wasted. He checks his savings and 401K every month. Each year he analyses his Social Security payout statement. His sacrifice will pay off in retirement. It’s going to be done right. Travel anywhere he wants, eat anything he pleases. He won’t be dependent on anyone. For his 64th birthday his doctor gave him a surprise gift of six months.

In the winter of our lives there is still love…

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Free Verse, Poetry28 Comments

I asked you this morning how you felt
Though I already knew the answer
You smiled and gave me eggs and sausage
I did not need to ask for them

Crying Hands

On By Jerry BrothertonIn Poetry, Rhyming1 Comment

These once youthful, nimble fingers

Have pinned diapers on your behind

Swatted the misbehaving toddler

When you got out of line

Held your hand on the first day of school

Applauded loudly as the graduate passed

Waved goodbye when you moved on to face the world

Prayed for your happiness to last

Used words to paint my memories

So you might know how it all began

But now these once so nimble fingers

Can barely hold my pen

So I want to tell you one last time

Before these hands of mine go

I’d like to give you one last rhyme

To tell you how I love you so