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S

scribbler

Jan 31, 2016 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

AT 63

At three score and three I saw the truth
in a blaze of stern reality.
We all burned time in wasted youth
and I hardly dare to exclude me.

In small years how could we see,
though we'd been warned by older folk,
that in the future we would be
the butt of time's cruel ancient joke?

Mortality? A rumor so we thought
body nor limb would betray us.
We're too swift ever to become caught
by that black clad pursuing cuss.

Until at last I look around
'most are much younger than me,
the rest now reside in the ground,
that earth which awaits patiently.
At last I see.

About This Poem

Style/Type: Structured: Western

Review Request Direction: What did you think of my title?
How was my language use?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
How does this theme appeal to you?
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?

Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back

Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft

About the Author

Region, Country: South Carolina, United States, USA

Favorite Poets: Frost, Burns, Longfellow, Poe, and Johnson. I guess you've noticed these are all past masters. Other than folks on site I don't read any contemporary poets .

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Comments

9 years 5 months ago

quite true

Well said Stan.
Some extra syllables here and there I am sure you'll find as you edit.
Thank you for sharing.

S

9 years 5 months ago

Hi Rula

The price of aging I guess. Thanks for taking time to read and comment.......stan

9 years 5 months ago

Ay! R U KIDDING

Ay! R U KIDDING

at sixty ttttt2 ur so ung
u bluffed me
and said so many dawns
we 'd seen

you look 22 and I only 80plus 2
come Sir Stan
time awaits me
come shed no tear
publish the book
ere
when in heaven you declare
Loved was a nicey dawning pair
preceded me
not with the wind
earth beneath
gone with the melting snow
left his ego

come let's sing in praise
till there is time
i am 69 correction 62
ALL give a standing ovation will you
let the dawny guy see it too

This poetry of yours
Stan
in the book anew
shall much ado

S

9 years 5 months ago

Hi loved

I recall thinking that 50 was old (at the time I was 30) so I guess it's all relative isn't it? i know that on bad knee days I feel like I'm 100 lol. Book is on temporary hold pending Wesley's return but I hope to get it cranked back up in a few weeks.......stan

9 years 5 months ago

its ok

how is Snow now
latest update kindly
all want to know
may be

S

9 years 5 months ago

I have

messaged him and haven't gotten a response yet. I suspect he is still occupied with recovery at the moment........stan

9 years 5 months ago

thanks

after by pass it takes along tyme
I have seen 5 at least very closely
maybe a month PLUS

8 years 2 months ago

Not always

Five days after a double bypass I was climbing a bing, an overgrown shale heap, so that I would have a good view of the dawning. Cold day but warmed my heart.
PS: If I had stayed in hospital for another two days (and the doctors wanted me to stay longer), I would have qualified for an insurance payout. C'est la vie.

S

8 years 2 months ago

Hi

A good view and fresh air likely helps heal more than 2 more days of sterile hospital halls and walls. Good to know you recovered well.......stan

9 years 5 months ago

Dear Bro

This is excellent its really well done and gives the reader a sense of time and how it catches us all

Trying to catch up on the many ive missed .. I will get there eventually

loved this poignant poem !!

Love and hugs always Sis xxx

S

9 years 5 months ago

hello!

I reckon before one can be fully aware of how fast time passes you have to have become an old farts' club member like me lol. Thanks for taking the time to drop by.........stan

9 years 2 months ago

62 Young Stan here I am at 74..

Take those years of youth that you have discarded as being fast burning time and wasting, not so young woodsman.
This youth you would try to throw away as waste, he taught you right from wrong, balance and the love of all things taught you to learn of things to lean on in later years.
There you were evolved in haste maybe, but evolve you did, never think that one second of those hours and days were ever wasted, here young woodsman we now have a man that has been built by his experiences, you learnt well young man and it will always be a pleasure to know you.
All our love to you, yours, Ian, Anne and the children..

S

9 years 2 months ago

Ian

You might well be right. We Are the sum of our experiences aren't we? Even if some time is spent goofing off that is time in which one observes the world. Thanks for dropping by......stan

8 years 3 months ago

Stan

I is 75 now my b/d was yesterday lol,
My love to you all as always,
Yours Ian..

8 years 3 months ago

Happy Birthday ........>>>>>>>yesterday

26 March 1942
did you not say
Ian be merry today

8 years 3 months ago

Loved

Thanks for the B/Day wishes I have now a new pen some cosy slippers and a bottle of Single Malt to feed my mind this evening lol,
Take care young one and know we love you,
Yours Ian..

8 years 3 months ago

cuppa tea

off me
4 ye
archaicky

9 years 2 months ago

we all go the same way

we all go the same way
follow your today
enjoy who you are
at 62 you still have far
don't waste your life energy
on what may be...
you have no control of destiny...
screw tomorrow, \it will come anyway
and unless you have a 6th sight
like me
there is nothing dark to see

S

9 years 2 months ago

Hi

We plan and plan and then make more plans for the future then something comes up which changes everything lol.....But we then start planning again.........stan

9 years 2 months ago

Stan,

62 years young when we look at the earth the tree's or maybe even turtles.
I am 62 as you are. I feel younger then ever, as I live in the present moment
What has passed my way has been minuscule in my quest for knowledge. That is what keeps me young knowing I have so much more to learn.

Happy Birthday young man!
I will live forever through my writing...
Eddie C.

S

9 years 2 months ago

Hey Eddie

If not for bad knees I'd still feel like I'm hell on wheels lol. But sometimes the pain and also knowing I'm limited in what I can do makes me feel like I'm at least 90. But there's hope. Will be getting both knees replaced this year so maybe I'll be back to being a whipper snapper before too long............stan

9 years 2 months ago

Stan,

No more dreaming,
the body goes,
but our brain grows
isn't that special!
good luck on your surgery!!

Eddie C.

8 years 2 months ago

I have had both replaced

Gave me a new lease of life. Only thing wrong with plastic knees, impossible to kneel without excruciating pain.

9 years 2 months ago

Hi Stan

Love this poem - and relate to it, being 61 myself. We think we're going to live forever when we're young!

As always you hit the spot Stan - and your rhyming is spot on!

Love to you - I guess you are having a knee op? So you'll be able to run that marathon after all. Lol

Mand xxxxx

S

9 years 2 months ago

Hi young whipper snapper

Due to the vast difference in our ages you might start calling me Mr. Holliday lmao. I heard somebody say once we're never really grown up until our parents die. Maybe that's when mortality becomes real to people? Alway good to see you come by........stan

9 years 2 months ago

Ah

Perhaps that's why I haven't grown up yet! Tehe

But I'm dreading the day they die ( though it could well be that they out live me ).

Love Mand xxx

S

9 years 2 months ago

I hope

they have many years to come. Mine having already passed I sometimes feel like the world's oldest orphan.........stan

8 years 3 months ago

Stan

Are you related to that Doc from OK Corral or are you just "What's UP Doc" lol.
Yours as always,
Ian..

S

8 years 2 months ago

Hi Ian

The "Doc" Holliday first killed an old black childhood friend after the war of northern aggression. He then left Georgia and hid out with an uncle in Pendleton South Carolina before heading west. At that time an ancestor of mine also lived in Pendleton. So it's possible I have a bit of that killer blood in me.....be careful not to piss me off lol.........stan

8 years 2 months ago

Grow up?

I hope you don't think the happy chappy has any intention of ever growing up. I should cocoa.

8 years 3 months ago

HELLO THERE

You all are a year older
but all of you
much younger..
I hear the bells tolling

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
TOMORROW MAY BE
L O V E D L YYYYYYYY

I told you Joe
5 years ago
I will lead
you may
FOLLOW
I know!

S

8 years 3 months ago

Hi Mark and all

I appreciate all you whipper snappers dropping by lol.......................stan

8 years 2 months ago

each day adds up and grants a new experience

from 30 to 50 to 62

but how much really

old* are you
*read young

Stan the standing man

S

8 years 2 months ago

lol

Depends on the day. Some days I feel like a teenager and others I fell old as the mountains lol..........stan

8 years 2 months ago

stay young as a flowing RIVER

then fall
as does Niagara
and
gradually merge with the vast ocean
no one will know
who Stan!

8 years 2 months ago

This has a lot going for it Stan

but is still wordy. When you edit it, I am sure you will find, it merely needs a trim here and there.

S

8 years 2 months ago

greetings

It was an edit which brought this back on stream but I often edit poems 5-6 times over time so maybe I'll pay more attention to brevity next time. Appreciate your honesty.......stan

S

7 years 1 month ago

Hi Mark

So you are also 64? This was after all written 2 years ago lol. Appreciate you dropping by

S

7 years 1 month ago

Hi Mark

So you are also 64? This was after all written 2 years ago lol. Appreciate you dropping by

7 years 1 month ago

and stan now you know

all of us have added dawns two
you are now 64
And i am a bit much older
Niagara tells me
I have overstayed
if I'd believed my docs
by now
I would have been like the Niagara's QUEEN'S mist...

Thanks to thee
I love to read what is poetry
coming from the likes
OK
LOL
of Stan ye

S

7 years 1 month ago

Hi Loved

Sometimes as friends fall by the wayside of mortality I wonder about the advantages of growing old(er). Thanks for dropping by you old codger lol

7 years 1 month ago

i again lost

may contest
thought was the last one
old boy to contests now says
BYE
OKAY GOOD BYE
NO BUY...

6 years 8 months ago

63?

Enjoy, You got 2 good years left. (Maybe 3 tops)
The next few are as crazy as going from 13 to 19 years old. A lot happens.
and forget about thinking about death, save it for 70+.

But I like your poem. Who woudda thunk it would happen to you!

S

6 years 8 months ago

Lol

Somebody keeps playing tricks on me using my mirror. I look in it and there's some old guy looking back instead of the 20 year old who's inside lol. Thanks for the visit and warning.........stan