This funny poem was originally shared with us by Reverend Lyman “Bud” Taylor, a longtime resident of our Wesley Heights community. Bud came across the poem in his readings one day and thought it might be enjoyed by the older adults who live at Wesley Village, many of whom can relate to the changes of “old age”. Bud passed away in December 2012, but is still fondly remembered at Wesley Village. He and his wife Marian lived at Wesley Heights over ten years.
The poem was recently shared again in the July/August 2014 edition of the Wesley Village Gazette, a campus publication produced by Wesley Heights’ resident, Lisa Ann Sorlie. Special thanks to Lisa for passing along the poem….
We hope that even in the midst of the changes of “old age,” you or your loved one can “dust off their wits” each morning and live each day as they please, as independently as possible!
OLD AGE
My get-up and go, got up and went –
But in spite of all that, I am able to grin
When I think where my get-up and go has been.
But sometimes I wonder as I go to bed
(My ears in a drawer, my teeth in a cup,
My eyes on the table until I wake up.)
Is there anything else I should lay on the shelf?
And I’m happy to say as I close the door
My friends are the same as days of yore.
I could kick my heels right over my head.
When I grew older, my slippers were blue
But I still could dance the whole night through.
I walk to the corner and puff my way back.
What’s the reason I know my youth is spent?
My get-up and go has got up and went.
Of all the places my get-up has been!
Since I’ve retired from life’s competition
I busy myself with complete repetition.
Pick up the paper and read the obits;
If my name is missing I know I’m not dead
So I eat a good breakfast and go back to bed.
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