Saturday 6 August 2016

I almost caught a firefly once


I almost caught a firefly once
A good many years ago
Long before age made its mark
I'll sit not walk, in the park today

My voice is weak I cannot shout
Sometimes it's but a whisper
Time you're a hard taskmaster
How I wish it were yesterday

The sea's foam washes on the shore
Seagulls still hover overhead
Kids laughing race round me now
But crabs still scuttle out my way

An hour seems like a minute now
Even years skip by me too
Magazines use smaller type
I can't make out what people say

Clouds scurry in the sky above
Once they merely drifted by
The sun still smiles, raindrops fall
At least I'm still alive, hurray!


Image found at www.smithsonianmag.com

25 comments:

  1. I was getting depressed (it sounds so familiar) but pleased that you ended on a high note.

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  2. what a joy to find oneself among everything so thriving even if the hard taskmaster is a bit stern it can never put out the halo of the inner child :)

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  3. i felt saddness then lifted at the end :)

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  4. Yes, indeed, time does fly. Good to remember to live in the 'Now'.

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  5. No doubt time flies :) and we see it change around us. Though the poem started off on a serious note I am glad it had an uplifting end. Beautifully penned.

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  6. Get a zimmer, buy a magnifying glass, put on a pair of Speedos!

    Visit Keith's Ramblings

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  7. how time does fly by, like the uplifting finish

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  8. Hurray indeed - although i wish time had a pause button too - how quickly we go from running on the beach to being run round on the beach - but i am glad the crabs still scuttle and you see the sky and sea

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  9. I'm glad you're still alive and writing poems! (And I know what you mean about the way magazines are using smaller type; I've noticed it too.)

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  10. Hmm . I'm in my twenties and feel time is going by too darn quickly.

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  11. You speak my mind--sitting, whispering, all! But this is my favorite: "An hour seems like a minute now
    Even years skip by me too
    Magazines use smaller type
    I can't make out what people say"

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  12. Wow, synchronicity as I have written about a firefly. I think you have captured the signs of aging yet, there is still light.

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  13. Wow is right. This comes to us all- the part that drew a chord for me was the magazines- it all goes full circle and little appears new...bkm

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  14. Such a tender piece Robin - certainly caught me and found resonance in my soul this afternoon. Thank you so much. Your work always has such clarity, humility and integrity too. A real treat... With Best Wishes Scott

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  15. I love this one, Robin, and feel exactly the same way, especially "At least i'm still alive, Hooray! "

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  16. Fireflies carry that fascination about them, you do want to reach out and claim them for your own. I'm reading your poem on different levels though

    have a nice Sunday

    much love...

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  17. This poem ends on such a jubilant note: Hurray!

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  18. I so relate to this piece. I've reached the point - 65 - where I am starting to "feel" the differences, as I never did before ... each year: a tiny bit more. Ah me. Such is life, I guess.

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  19. I think one should draw a distinction between being alive and existing.

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    Replies
    1. ...plus talking, writing and laughing, don't forget those, Rall.

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  20. Hurray indeed. I can only imagine the way things appears once we reach certain destinations. One thing for sure, familiar things are never the same at some point.

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  21. Yes! I'm always glad to be above ground :)
    ZQ

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  22. i liked what you said about magazines using smaller type, heh.
    old age does have its perks too. people don't hurry you and they give up their seats to you in the bus or trains. :)

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  23. The sun still smiles, raindrops fall
    At least I'm still alive, hurray!

    There is so much to look forward too! One wonders then why there are so many whiners still lamenting when gracefully it should be accepted!

    Hank

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