Monday, June 3, 2013

When I'm Sixty-One

I'm three days late with this birthday poem to me, but who's counting?


When I'm Sixty-One
©2013 Susan Noyes Anderson


A happy birthday to myself!
I just turned sixty-one.
I'd like to say that things are great
and getting old is fun.

Instead, I'm going to vent a bit
and set the record straight.
Let's hope my aging brain kicks in
enough to concentrate!

I'm sad to say my memory
(which used to be top notch)
meanders now, like someone who
just drained a fifth of scotch.

It's up and down; it's in and out;
it's neither here nor there.
My brain is leaking grey matter
directly to my hair!

(That would account, I do believe,
for certain color changes.)
No doubt whatever youth dispenses,
old age rearranges.

Or maybe I should say exchanges:
satin-smooth for rough,
firm for saggy, round for wrinkled,
dewy/dry, soft/rough.

Enough! The years take liberties
with me, without consent.
No potion, pill, or lotion seems
to lessen the extent.

So here's my new position, just
because I like to win:
Bring it on, Age! Make me crusty.
Who needs silky skin?

And with thesaurus close at hand,
what use is word recall?
Hey, old is the new young, you know.
Why stand, when you can crawl?

;)



"Age is an issue of mind over matter.
If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."
Mark Twain

27 comments:

Momza said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUE! Hope your day is filled with people who love you.

Helena said...

LoL......Belated birthday wishes....!!

Sue, you really are the Queen of humorous rhyme! That was stupendously funny. I'll never complain of a future birthday again.....!

Grandma Honey said...

I hear you sister! I wish I didn't know what the heck this poem is about, but I know too well. :)

Grandma Honey said...

Oh and I almost forgot:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Stef said...

Happy late birthday!!! And older is more loveable!!!!

Brian Miller said...

smiles. happy birthday.
but just think...when you forget things, you have an excuse now...smiles...
and of course this means you should never have to do dishes again,
for surely arthritis has set in---

(wink wink) see there are advantages...smiles...just having some fun back...61 is still young you know...

Janet Martin said...

You are too funny! I'm thinking of that George Strait song...I don't mind the thought of growing old, I just don't want to lose my sense of humor..." Your sense of humor seems intact, my dear! Happy belated birthday and may God bless you as you grow more beautiful!

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

Dear Sweet Sue I thought of you on your Big Day and meant to come by and wish you Happy Birthday but like you my memory wanders.
I turned 65 in May so I know exactly how you feel and can relate to this funny birthday poem.
We have to keep our sense of humor while everything else seems to leave us.
My Dad's Birthday is the same as yours. I do miss sharing Birthdays with him.
I hope you had a very Happy Day and enjoy many many more years to come.
Love ya
Maggie

~T~ said...

Happy birthday, anyway!

Terra said...

Happy birthday wishes to you, and your poem gave me some giggles. I can relate.

Serene is my name, not my life! said...

You are too funny!

And happy happy birthday!!! I hope it was amazing!

EG CameraGirl said...

Happy birthday, Sue. I think you are aging gracefully...at least your mind is. I like your attitude. :)

Karen Mortensen said...

That was good. Happy Birthday.

jen said...

Happy birthday! The older I get, the more I commiserate with these complaints!

Friko said...

I love this post! And the song too.

Happy Birthday, old lady.

Unknown said...

Now that's the spirit! Although, I'm really not looking forward to any more birthdays personally. Hope you had a great one!

Amy said...

Happy birthday Sue! I hope it was lovely.

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday, Sue. Here's to many more years of meandering memories. You're incredible

yaya said...

Happy Birthday Sue! I love your "so true" poem...I mean, it's really "SO TRUE"!!!!. Sorry, old age had made me a bit edgy too! However, if you want to use a picture of me at the end of your poems, just ask first...Hahaha! It did make me laugh!

LeAnn said...

I hope you had a wonderful birthday. I loved your poem and it's all so true. You are still a young one. I am getting way to close to seventy.
I am smiling on this one.
Blessings and hugs!

Jenny said...

Happy Belated Birthday!

karen said...

Excellent poem! And I'm right behind you, sister...

Kathe W. said...

oh hahahah wait just wait til you get to be 70!!!!!! and I used to think that was old....now that I am there...hell it ain't nuttin' honey pie!
Love love your poem! Cheers!

Nancy said...

Love the poem and much applies to me as well. But it's much better than the alternative!

Happy belated birthday!

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday to the youngest sixty one year old I know!

Granny Sue said...

Happy birthday, name-sister! I'm a June baby as well. We have so many things in common it's scary. Blessings to you on your birth day, and may you have many, many more. (I'm only a year ahead of you).

Unknown said...

Vent all you want!! Happy Birthday 61 times over!!