At seventy

 

 

I learned the truth at seventy

Libidos don’t come guaranteed

Hair has grown in random places

a million creases in our faces

 

The stairs look more like Everest

With all our dance moves past their best

Accidents with sudden sneezing

Breathing now? It’s mostly wheezing

 

And those of us with ravaged faces

Now lacking any social graces

Eyesight fading, lost glasses cases

Can't bend down to tie our laces

 

To those of us who know the pain

Arthritic fingers, massaged in vain

knees and hips now in fine fettle

Long since swapped for lumps of metal

 

It was long ago and far away

The world was younger than today

The bus passes now come for free 

For those of us at seventy

 

But don't despair but smile instead

At least you still sleep in your bed

Some friends and lovers still around 

To share this life to which you’re bound 

 

So raise a glass and toast yourself

Wish one and all the best of health

And realise how lucky you are to be

The grand old age of seventy.