Feb 22 Homework LOOKING Forward - LOOKING Back

[Terry]

LOOKING forward – LOOKING back

Writing here a letter to myself some forty years ago,
and it’s hypothetical of course – what do I really know?
As I doubt that I would listen or take notice of me then,
and it’s scary just to peep back in the past once more again.

Did I really do such stupid things when I was just a lad,
though you learn from your mistakes as well, perhaps it’s not all bad?
So instead of looking back, perhaps I need to look ahead?
for I still have time to change my ways – and do some good instead.

Nothing that I do or say will change mistakes already made,
though perhaps it’s not too late to have a go and make the grade.
Or perhaps I’m hiding from the past, what sins occurred back then?
Yes some things are best forgotten now, by even wise old men.

So this letter’s lost its way a bit, It’s destined for the bin,
for pretending that I’m pure and chased would truly be a sin.

© T.E. Piggott

[Catherine Lee]

Ah, very good, Terry and so true! We cannot change the past, and it's best not to 'crucify' ourselves over silly things we've done and instead learn from these stuff-ups and focus on the current moments and way ahead, especially as some things are indeed much better forgotten! This is delightful, and I love the way you've ended it - I trust it is NOT destined for the bin though!

[mummsie]

I can’t imagine you’ve ventured too far off the track Terry and agree with Catherine-no point crucifying ourselves for past mistakes. Good write.

I hope you & Val are keeping well.
Cheers
Sue

[Ron]

Good one Terry, says it all! Best to move on and not dwell on the past too much. Reminds me of an old adage that states 'life should be anticipation tinged with rememberance!' Enjoyed the read mate, well done.
Cheers
Ron

[Terry]

Thanks Catherine Sue & Ron

I'm on holiday down at Peaceful bay,
so this was one of those poems you write when you can't think of something better.

Apart from a few aches & pains we're going ok Sue, hope you are as well.

Also hope you are all well and staying safe.

Terry

[David Judge]

I wrote this a while back but it seems to fit the exercise.
Hope all is well with everyone. David

Us Older Folks

To understand us older folks may take a little time,
beneath that rough exterior are feelings told in rhyme.
So take the time to understand what old age really means
and get a glimpse of how our lives exist behind the scenes.

When folks like me get older we forget some people’s names,
except the ones we’ve got at home in many picture frames.
We rue the fading memories of people we have met,
and know that fleeting glimpses are as good as it will get.

And now that we are older we all know we’re slowing down,
not fleet of foot or agile as the fastest kid in town.
Excuse us if we take some time to get out of the way,
perhaps you should consider that you’ll be the same someday.

To be a little older means not hearing all that well,
we need to turn the TV up is how our kids can tell.
We buy the latest headphones to enjoy the ABC,
but then we soon discover that the screen is hard to see.

A consequence of ageing is we’re prone to criticize,
the gap of generations should not come as a surprise.
We’re not on Twitter, Instagram or any of those things,
it’s face-to-face that we prefer and all the joy it brings.

And talking to some ageing mates about their old school days,
they spoke about their teachers and the silly yo-yo craze.
And some remember marbles as the game they got to play,
whilst others spoke of friendships which continue to this day.

Now getting older by the day we seem to eat much less,
which helps to keep our spending down with budgets under stress.
It’s handy when the pension never seems to be enough,
although we think of many in the world who do it tough.

As ageing signs begin to show, our bodies lose some shape,
we feel at times the excess fat should get bound up in tape.
Some places seem to blow out more which makes it hard to dress,
to look like we were meant to and continue to impress.

To get a little older means arthritis in the hips,
another of those ageing things for us to come to grips.
It seems we need to realise the limits of our game,
without the things we used to do, our life won’t be the same.

To get to be a certain age we see the country’s fate
and disregard the nonsense from political debate.
We always wonder how on earth some pollies got the vote,
to do no more than get well paid to postulate and gloat.

And when we get to pension age we hate a noisy place,
where people who have no regard are always in our face.
It doesn’t seem to matter to some people who offend,
who talk so loud in public, on their phone or with a friend.

To get to be an elder means there is no need for wealth,
the only thing that matters is maintaining our good health.
For if we’re feeling lousy, or we’re really bloody crook,
just money cannot guarantee that we’ll get off the hook.

Some older folks who rode at work no longer ride their horse,
their ages are so similar and they’ve both run their course.
Their horses looked as if to say, ‘and now what happens mate’?
They simply said, I’m sorry, we’re both past our use-by date.

When playing sport is limited we have a go at bowls,
and get to play with folks our age, all with different roles.
Some folks can ‘Skip’ and some can ‘Lead’ and others in between,
revealing personalities when playing on the green.

And as we’re getting older we reflect on married life.
I know I would not be here now without my gorgeous wife.
Of course we’ve had our ups and downs as most of us expect,
to navigate those highs and lows needs mutual respect.

Of all the things which come with age, our children are unique,
no matter where we come from or the languages we speak.
There will be times of happiness and times we may regret,
but parents are forever which we all should not forget.

We’re not too old to understand the reasons for ‘Me Too’,
exposing gender bias and what some men say and do.
Whilst those who are responsible should hang their heads in shame,
there is an understanding that not all blokes are the same.

So looking back on all those years, some things make little sense,
decisions that we made without a thought of consequence.
And as the years have added up there is no cause for blame,
the younger generation are all doing just the same.

Of course when we get older we remember work we did,
some jobs we did with passion, others just to make a quid.
So looking back as most folks do, some jobs we did were tough,
but most of all the jobs we did, we didn’t earn enough.

Now looking back we can recall some things we should have done,
like sporting teams that lost believing that they should have won.
But lives long-lived are more than just a single sporting game
and all those things we did achieve are worthy of acclaim.

And now that we are older than the three score years and ten,
we think about the landmark ages we won’t be agen.
‘twas seventeen to drive a car and eighteen years to vote,
at twenty-one to get the key and fifty ‘s now remote.

Some older folks that I know well gave time as volunteers
and made that contribution to communities for years.
For many in that age group it became the thing to do,
but not important to them if no other person knew.

When folks like me get older we all tend to looking back,
at all the things we got to do along one’s lifelong track.
No matter what we all recall of lives that we have led,
we cannot change the things we did or words we may have said.

[mummsie]

Enjoyed this David!!
A lot I can relate to here, many lines stirred a memory(marbles….those were the days-remember Tom Bowlers?)
Poem flows along smoothy with good content, thank you!

Sue

[Terry]

G/day Davoid

That says it all mate.

Cheers

Terry

[David Judge]

Thanks Sue and Terry. Probably a bit long but its a reminder to myself that I have joined the 'older' age group.

[Shelley Hansen]

Two excellent poems, Terry and David!

David, would you consider reposting your poem as a separate topic in the "Writing Workshop" section? It deserves a thread of its own.

Cheers
Shelley