from then to now

an elderly couple is shattered when one of them dies...how will the survivor cope?

the loneliness I felt long ago,

 before we met,

can’t come close to comparing to

the loneliness I am feeling

now that I’ve lost you.

 

the time passes so quickly,

the clock spins

crookedly, adapting to the empty

place in my life where you once

stood…complacent.

 

my advancing years’ crescendo

fills me not with

beautiful symphonic cacophony but

the singular wail of a

rusted saxophone.

 

growing old alone and hurt

is not the way

to end a life.

 

dan © 2015

Music: "Old and Wise," by The Alan Parsons Project

Author's Note

Reviews

[GreenEyedPoet]

Ya pulled at my heart strings with this one Dan!
A lovely write. :]

[dan]

When a couple is together forever and one of them passes it's as if they both die, with one going more gradually but just as terminal. My wife and I are reaching that age in which we talk and both hope that she/I is/am the one that's left behind. A sad but inevitable cog in the machine of life and love. Thanks again for your kind words. take care...dan

[GreenEyedPoet]

Very true, it is a sad but inevitable part of life. That's why we have to just focus the now and enjoying the time we DO have with people we love, rather then dwelling on what's gonna happen in the future to them or ourselves.

[dan]

We both have medical issues and the clock is ticking...neither one of us wants the "time after..." to belong to either. Ideally we go together. Sorry, you must think we're morbid...just realists. take care...dan

[GreenEyedPoet]

Nah, not morbid. I'm sure lots of people feel this way.

[Not here]

this was a great description of the feelings that are too common nowadays. great poem and great work :)

[dan]

A couple begins to hear the clock ticking (for which one?) when a certain age threshold is met. A sad but necessary time of life. Thanks for the review. take care...dan

[Crystal Overmeyer-Birmi..]

my advancing years’ crescendo

fills me not with

beautiful symphonic cacophony but

the singular wail of a

rusted saxophone.

Beautiful line. I liked the rhythm and tone of the piece. Loved the finality of the last lines. Great Job

[dan]

People of a certain age (with a significant other) dread thinking of a day when one of the two will pass, how life goes on. My wife and I speak of it occasionally (we'd each prefer to be the first to go); morbid couple, aren't we? Aah, it's just life in all its splendor and spectacle. From then to now. take care...dan

[Crystal Overmeyer-Birmingham]

lol. No more morbid than my husband and I. We talk about dieing in passing, but i honestly think it reminds you that what you have is special and limited so make the best of the years you have.

[dan]

Very well put...dan

[Aclestile]

Very nicely written. Love the comparison to music

[dan]

Thank you for the kind words. I've bookmarked your page and will be by soon to return the favor. (Feel free to send me read requests...I always review them) take care...dan

[Matching Socks]

Pulling at my hearts strings Dan. Beautifully written.

[dan]

Ana, Long time, no hear. Hope all is fine with you. Thank you for your kind words. take care...dan

[Matching Socks]

You're welcome Dan, my pleasure. I am fine and life is good, thank you.

[modtoddinc]

A poignant and heart felt write. Superb imagery and flow, and as I have come to recognize in your writing, there is usually a question or a statement that hooks the reader. You slam the door shut with your last stanza; a firm statement. Excellent job Dan. (hope all is well)

~peace, Todd

[dan]

Thank you for the kind words, Todd. Yeah, I hook 'em all like fish on a line! You have to do something early on to make the reader say, "Oh!" But I only know for sure that it works by what you've just told me. A very small sampling size, yes? Thanks again! take care...dan

[JerryB]

Heh.Heh I read this poem earlier but my attempts at commenting was thwarted by your video clip. I couldn't keep my thoughts on my comments because of the video, so I just left. But came back and looked for a place to stop the darn video. Thank goodness

I completely relate to this well-written poem. The past April I had a birthday. I turned seventy-six. How in the world have I managed to make it this far, especially given my background. But despite my two lost decades I have managed. Six years ago my wife died and I just knew I would soon follow her. You were so right when you penned . . . "growing old alone and hurt / is not the way /
to end a life."

[dan]

Jerry, I'm sorry you were distracted by the vid. I always figure that if it gets in the way for a reader they can just stop it. I'm so sorry to hear about your late wife. My wife and I are in the age group (Late '50s-early '60s) that prompts us to think about such eventualities. It's scary, and I'm glad to see you soldiering on after your wife's passing. Thank you, sir! take care...dan

[Annacate]

It's good. The attached song is beautiful but it takes too much attention away from your words.

[dan]

What I do when I come to a review with a song attached is to listen to the song first. When it stops I then read the piece. I'm sorry if this detracted from the poem for you. Thank you so much for the read/review. take care...dan

[Annacate]

Thanks for letting me know about that. I thought you uploaded it. I'm still learning about this website, so I appreciate the tip. I really like the line of the "advancing years crescendo and the wail of the saxophone." Made me sad.

[sara]

just lovely, you provided much needed insight

[dan]

Sometimes even insight can be overrated. But I guess that in poetry it gives readers a basis for comparison to their interpretation of the piece. Thank you for the read/review. take care...dan

[Ranger Nadaly]

This poem is very fluid, enticing the entire time.

[dan]

Thank you, I like to entice, and maybe do it twice. (Don't mind me I'm just a little off the wall today) I appreciate your read/review. take care...dan