Fragments Of An Old Man's Life

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fragments of an old man's life

collide with younger thoughts.

Reminiscences about yesteryears,

and the youthful life he once lived.

Smooth skin is now disturbed with wrinkles,

and  his once sharp mind is fading

along with the diming of his eyes.

 

Images of his picturesque wife are vague,

but he still smells the scent of her

passing in the afternoon breeze.

The imprint of her dewy lips are

sometimes felt, and his cold-blooded

body warms at the small recollection

of holding her in his arms.

Now he just yearns to be with her.

 

Laughter resounds in his deaf ears

of a little boy and girl.

Cuddling them ambush his thoughts,

and his knee aches and still feels

the heaviness of their weight,

but remembrance of who they are

slips his fading mind.

 

Home was a place of warmheartedness.

Growth was done as a family.

Hard work still shows on his crinkled skin,

and pleasure he felt back then he still

wears on his aging face even though

in the passing of time nothing seems familiar.

 

He spends his days now in a new home

with people just like him, old and alone.

Ever now and then he catches a memory,

but mostly he sits and reminisce in fragments of an old man's life.

 

 

       

Author's Note

Tell me what you think!

Reviews

[Loner]

Beautiful depiction of old age .....

[R J Askew]

I think this is really strong. At first I thought, 'my poems, they are the fragments of my life'. I then thought hell, life is awful, the way that when all our first times are over other than one last first time we are left with nothing at all to look fwd to, just memories. But then I thought of, what is actually the case for many, of how many millions of elderly folk do not even have memories are already partly dead in the minds with alzheimers or some other memory corrosive state. Yes, life is without doubt unpleasant in many ways. Your poem does not dwell on that though. You make the best case.

[newyearnorma]

so sweet and sad

[Ruth]

Really makes the reader feel the scenario! A wonderful piece of heart wrenching work love, to be lost in the memories when we grow older, such a saddening thing as well as heart warming!
This tells like a tale and I can imagine this person dwelling on the past, wonderful poem xoxo

[Susie Q]

This is so very true and it tugs at the heart. We might all end up just as your poem says with only our memories to carry us through. This is beautiful and is going into my library. Thank you!

[Bare trees]

It's always so sad to see an elderly person lose their faculties. I guess sooner or later we're all destined to grow old. This was well written in a style that's easy to read and understand. Just watch the spelling errors. I noticed them in another poem as well. Nevertheless, a fine poem.

[tk]

what you have shown in this poem is true and sad. this made me realize how much i love my grandparents and my parents. a truly heartfelt and eye-opening poem. very wonderful.. great job!! ^_^

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

a beautiful piece full of sadness and truth...........

[Mary Fioratti]

This poem made me think how many thoughts cross an old people's mind. How many memories and also sadness. Once I was volunteering in a Nursing Home. It is amazing how they want just a little attention to share their memories. I remember there was a woman that always was telling the same history...over and over. And every time that she asked me "Did I tell you that?" I used to say: "No"... and there I was hearing her ... So sad...and this is life.
Congratulations for such reality that you showed in your poem.
*Mary*

[Star Wolf]

This one makes me feel sad, it brings to mind memories of my grandparents and how hard life got for them as they got older, when about the only thing left was memories near the end. And it scares me because we/myself are heading in that direction each and everyday. This is awesome work!