from then to now

an elderly couple is shattered when one of them dies...how will the survivor cope?

the loneliness I felt long ago,

 before we met,

can’t come close to comparing to

the loneliness I am feeling

now that I’ve lost you.

 

the time passes so quickly,

the clock spins

crookedly, adapting to the empty

place in my life where you once

stood…complacent.

 

my advancing years’ crescendo

fills me not with

beautiful symphonic cacophony but

the singular wail of a

rusted saxophone.

 

growing old alone and hurt

is not the way

to end a life.

 

dan © 2015

Music: "Old and Wise," by The Alan Parsons Project

Author's Note

Reviews

[Ink Seductress]

I honestly have no words This was beautifully penned..

[dan]

I guess having no words is a positive+. At least you didn't tell me how bad this really was. 8^) take care...dan

[Relic]

You have a very coherent style that' easy to read and understand. APP is one of my favorite bands and it compliments the subject matter well. There's nothing fun about growing old. Great poem here.

[dan]

Relic, Thank you for taking the time to do a read/review, and thank you for your kind words. As a 58 year old man I can say that there are a few things that make getting old fun. For one, you can act like a total dipshit, then stop and look around at everyone looking at you and say, "Hey, I'm old, whadda you want from me?" take care...dan

[Relic]

hahahaha, good reply Dan.

[Mayank]

Wow! The feeling thrilled me. Many of the times I have imagined myself this way and that's how I wrote two poems on growing old. Good write!

[dan]

Thanks so much for your read/review. I appreciate your kind words. take care...dan

[B]

This poem reminds me of my grandma
She always speaks of grandpa like he should have been around
In some way she sort of made sure he is alive everyday
I spend all my time with her
You have a way with words and you seem to bring alot of images of the past to my mind.
It's not easy to lose your partner at old age ...... never can be after sharing a long life together
Though i still think grandma is in love with him though he is gone

Very sweet Dan and i love the music
Going to add it to my playlist

[dan]

I'm sure your grandma still loves him as if he was next to her always. That kind of love is a gift that keeps on giving. take care...dan

[Nadia Gerassimenko]

I also cannot imagine, don't want to imagine how it would feel to be separated from a partner in life by death, all the years together and now having to grow old, alone. I know my grandmother took it very tragically. It's like a part of you dies and leaves you forever. Life is never the same. You definitely captured the idea of it...it's no more a symphony, but a wailing sax.

[dan]

Nadia, my wife and I have discussed this, and both of us want to be the first to go because we can't imagine trying to move on alone and broken. A sad part of life that little thought can explain or especially avoid. take care...dan

[Julia Mars]

It's difficult thing to imagine and cope with.

[dan]

my wife and I discuss the possibilities occasionally. nice, cheerful people, aren't we? 8^) take care...dan

[Julia Mars]

I think most couples do. It's just part of life...
Being prepared...

[MsJewel]

I can't even imagine what this would feel like Dan...such sadness and emotion in your words. But I think what I like most about this one is the softness of your words. Truly an amazing piece of work.

Julie

[dan]

Thank you, Julie. Perhaps morbidly, this is a situation my wife and I discuss at times. Each of us hopes that we will be the first to go, neither wants to move forward without the other. take care...dan

[Kelly Scheppers]

I often wonder how my mom did it, losing my Dad with four kids under the age of eleven. Perhaps God breathed an extra breath into those who are left behind, to give them the fortitude to carry on.

This is a very special one, Dan...and I pray that you and I will never know its reality!

My best,
Kelly

[dan]

The reality is an ever-present nagging thought for my wife and I. Each of us wants to be the first to go, neither of us can imagine going forward alone. Thank you for your kind words. take care...dan

[Robert]

Dan, When I went to your page to read your writing, this is the first I saw and I opened it. I was struck by one of the first words, "loneliness: before and after. So many of us have felt this or will feel this during our lives. The last poem I read was the polar opposite of this one Dan. Even though I liked the other, this poem Is so emotional, I read it three times. It is very sad but you captured how you feel, the best poetry is the feelings expressed.

[dan]

My wife and I often discuss how we each hope that we die before the other one. Going forward without her is unfathomable to me; same for her. When one gets to a certain age these thoughts will crop up. Thank you for the fine review. take care...dan

[...]

I definitely feel a lot like this. The only man that ever loved me died 6 months ago. Thanks for sharing, Dan. Another awesome work of art.

[dan]

Thank you, lynn. I hope you are feeling better than the last time we 'spoke.' take care...dan