The Balance Beam

picture by pinterest

The Balance Beam

this night the Cheshire Cat moon is grinning 

low in my East horizon             the witching hour

beam spends its night waiting

never sleeping             silent it

keeps worn and time oiled skin 

warmed and waiting

like a Budhist Monk in meditation

how easy it use to be     lithe body     bold will

climbing aboard

i am old .... how am I expected

to mount once more the 4 inches 

like a cliche'

i use to stand stork like all day

without a tremor            

walking was a fresh breeze of spring

leaping splits, saltos and hand springs

all the apparatus working and silky

but this morning finds me       creaking

              cracking 

once more the limits of a falling body

....... i climb on board    do my job though

 

inside 

          

all the wobbling incapability 

has a mask and stink of fear

but

all goes quiet .. 

the glass pond ... 

the loon's cry

the lotus 

like the Monk

I would think I were dead 

if not for my own 

Cheshire

Cat 

grin.

10/16/2020

E. 

 

Author's Note

Reviews

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Wow an amazing way to tell of the changes as physical deterioration creeps into once well oiled bones. This has such a visual impact as you take the beam as your focus and your flow and word choice gives this an inevitable determined sadness. Bravo from one working out to try to stave off the knackers yard!

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahaha yes .."stave of the knackers yard" for sure .. ahahahha i am larfing loud over that right now .. i am keeping it in me nog .. and throwing out my .. "keeping the wolves at bay" :))))))))))))))) knacker yard indeed ... thanks so much for reading and taking time to review .. always a blessing my friend
E.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Gene... dare I be one of the first to respond...
becoming of Age is a new way to view the
silver/golden age. I would concur that our
sense of humor does play a part in our attitude.
We consider the future generations, and thus
have become fortune tellers to a degree.
We don our Masks and grab our Cane and manage
to smile like a Cheshire Cat as we "advice and consent"...
after all, we have become very wise in our disguise.
We the People still exist... stronger than ever. truly, Pat

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahaha we are very wise indeed Pat :)))))))))))))))))))) very blessed if and when those of our aging children decide to confide and seek our sage wisdom ... sadly, it is few and far between .. lucky to get a call to say Merry Christmas Da ;))))))))))) but .. like you say .. we must put on our face and carry on .. staunch soldiers all

[Patricia Wedel]

Yes... so true.. my son Robert’s younger wife has joined the Navy and well know in December if she might be stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, and have housu g for her family. These are the uncertain times of the future for our children. We live in Virginia... so they may be closer to us than where they have been living in SLC, Utah...
never a dull moment .. the have my two granddaughters and Leilani’s Mother who can watch the girls where she is stationed.
Talk about “there is nothing so constant as change”. Amen.. Pat ))))))): 🥀 petal

[Einstein Noodle]

[AJNJ]

Creaking, cracking we still rise and test ourselves everyday. We may no more be that well oiled, slick and powerful machine that we were once but somewhere the loss of youth is replaced by a powerful resolve to keep climbing that board in the face of all the wobbling and stink of fear. Takes courage everytime! And the rewards are worth it! Kudos dear sir!

[Einstein Noodle]

YES! up we go no matter eh!? again i thank you for your insightful read and for your review .. a pleasure to be getting to know you better .. right here at the Cafe' :)
E.

[AJNJ]

A delightful read for me dear sir! You're so welcome! Great to be here with you! Cheers! 🤗