This Ole Man

This Ole Man

 

 

This ole man
turns eighty

in the spring.
He still opens doors

for his wife

and offers his hand

to the small of her back.

This ole man

talks of war

and Chevrolets
and walks in the late

of evening.
He's loved only

one woman all his life.
She is the mother

of their three grown children,
and often completes

his sentences, when
he stumbles with remembering
her name…

This ole man
smells of wood

and pipe tobacco,
a scent that lingers within

the hollow of her heart,

even though he no longer can

open her door,
and offer his hand

to the small of her back.

photography by pixgood.com

Reviews

[CD Campbell]

Wonderful write. Beautiful in it's simplicity. Don't we wish all love can last that long as a picture of perfection? I enjoy your work Kelly. CD

[Kelly Scheppers]

My grandfather would be tickled to know I've immortalized him in cyberspace! Thank you, CD!

[NoelHC]

This resonated with me, as we watch both our parents, well into their 80s, doing some of these types of things you describe.
Well captured Kelly.

[Kelly Scheppers]

I really miss seeing those little touches, "the hand to the small of her back". Thank you, Noel!

[Nadia Gerassimenko]

I got teary-eyed reading this. What an honorable man he is, respectful and noble, a loyal heart to his one and only woman, and has great stories to tell. Unfortunately, with aging do come disabilities, but they can be helped when your partner in life has got your back.

[Kelly Scheppers]

Thank you, Nadia. This was written to honor the memory of my dear grandfather.

[wordman]

sounds like your grand pa kelly,a beautiful tribute to life

[Kelly Scheppers]

..thank you, so glad you enjoyed it!

[wordman]

you are welcome

[Diane Lockard]

The emotions and images you invoke are superb - to have a help mate to share your years together with love, consideration, and to speak as one. The picture of the weathered hands is a excellent choice.

[Kelly Scheppers]

Thank you, Diane. I held off posting this until I found the perfect accompaniment for it - which was this particular photo. I thought it was gorgeous, and depicted the gentility of aging that I was looking for!

[sereenaoutloud]

Oh Kelly this one tugged at my heart.. So beautiful and so sad to love so strong and long and yet have to watch that love one slowly fade :(
Fantastic write !

[Kelly Scheppers]

Thank you dear Sereena...your words warm my heart!

[dan]

Kelly, It is such a sad fact of life that the elderly have to watch themselves or loved ones decline, not being able to act, or feel the things that were once so commonplace. My wife's dad is 90 and is in a personal care home and cannot remember Dee's name when we go to see him, although he still remembers to ask me how the Pittsburgh Pirates are doing this year. She cries the remainder of the day. You have done justice to these conditions and with your writing have made such a sad fact of life a little bit easier to digest. Thank you for sharing this with all of us. take care...

[Kelly Scheppers]

My grandmother was 92 when she died, and was going through the stages of Alzheimer's. It broke my heart to be with her, yet I truly believed that in holding her hand, she really knew who I was! Bless you for leaving me such a compassionate review, Dan! Thank you!

[dan]

Kelly, I'm with you, and bless you also for the insightful and empathic write. take care...dan

[Dara]

Kelly, this write is so full of beautiful sentiment and love that lasts throughout the ages. He sounds like a very special 'ole man'!

[Kelly Scheppers]

Indeed, he was! Thank you, Dara!

[andrew mitchell]

Depicted a life in decay hanging on by a thread by memories and love that has endured hardships together. This is a sad emotional tear jerker of a write. I feel for these wonderful people. This just hits the atoms of my heart with a punch!

[Kelly Scheppers]

I think that's the kind of love and devotion we seek in this world...in this crazy, crazy world! Thank you, dear Andrew! Keep those ants away from the chicken, now! ; )

[alf]

Hi Kelly. Goosebumps raged!!!! This is such an emotional write!!! I felt drawn to this couple and have to guess this is someone very close to you!! I love the image you have created and feel the sorrow as his soul withdraws, those little gestures of love, so sadly missed, but always remembered. Brilliant!!!! alf

[Kelly Scheppers]

It was written in memory of my grandfather, Alf. I am thrilled you enjoyed it, thank you!