When is a man considered old
Is it when he was so told
That he should retire
Because there is no more fire
That he should take it easy now
Should reduce the work somehow
Start to enjoy his life
Go travel with the wife
To be told all this and more
Scares me to the core
They do not know the real me
Because the outside is all they see
They don’t know what I feel
What is false, what is real
How good it feels to be alive
With a fulfilled and active life
The path they want me to take
Feels to me like a big mistake
I want to keep on using my brain
Not held back by any chain
The outside may look old and used
The skin mottled and bruised
But inside is a different man
Straining to be whatever he can
Working, thinking, all of that
Fits just nicely under the hat
Why should I just wait to die
When the only limit is the sky
There is no age to any mind
No obstacle of any kind
That could not be overcome by me
So please, just let me be
- Author: Alfred Peyer (Pseudonym) ( Offline)
- Published: June 24th, 2017 11:51
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 34
- Users favorite of this poem: P.H.Rose
Comments8
Just how I feel - still feel young and I have so much to do and look forward to - time doesn't come into it. Thanks for posting.
Well spoken on behalf of us "men of a certain age"! Personally, I consider chronological age irrelevant. Fine poem, Fred.
Thanks Robert! I love Einstein, did not hear the one about the socks yet. I wrote this poem after I was asked once again when I would retire. I am 69, own my own business (one man show), love to work and don't see any reason to stop.
And Michael, you are right. Inside we are much younger than outside. And since my wife keeps telling me that I will never grow up, I must be around 7 or so.
Thanks Louis, you are right, age is only a number, at least up to a certain point. I want to do something physical. My mind says: No problem. My body says: Are you kidding?
Fred I absolutely love
This poem...brilliant!!
I'm making it another
One of my favourites
Every word you write
Is spot on......
Thanks so much P.H.!
let it be, let it be,
whisper words of wisdom,
let it be.
...and the Beatles are some of my favorites too!
Anyone below you can't offend you and noone you are equal to would! That good awl saying 'you are only as old as you feel' It's true. Never stop living your life , it's there for you to grab and hold and love and embrace! As long as you are happy.. the world is yours. Much love.
I won't and I will! Thank you.
Oh so right! You've hit that squarely on the nose. Some clown decided i'm pensionable this year. Good job i run my own business too or i would have had to adjust their nose in a different manner. Lots of life left inside us old coots so long as our health luck holds out.
I am so happy for you burning-embers!
Tell you the truth. I am scared of "retiring". So many people I knew died not long after they retired. Seriously.
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