The Balance Beam

picture by pinterest

The Balance Beam

this night the Cheshire Cat moon is grinning 

low in my East horizon             the witching hour

beam spends its night waiting

never sleeping             silent it

keeps worn and time oiled skin 

warmed and waiting

like a Budhist Monk in meditation

how easy it use to be     lithe body     bold will

climbing aboard

i am old .... how am I expected

to mount once more the 4 inches 

like a cliche'

i use to stand stork like all day

without a tremor            

walking was a fresh breeze of spring

leaping splits, saltos and hand springs

all the apparatus working and silky

but this morning finds me       creaking

              cracking 

once more the limits of a falling body

....... i climb on board    do my job though

 

inside 

          

all the wobbling incapability 

has a mask and stink of fear

but

all goes quiet .. 

the glass pond ... 

the loon's cry

the lotus 

like the Monk

I would think I were dead 

if not for my own 

Cheshire

Cat 

grin.

10/16/2020

E. 

 

Author's Note

Reviews

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Wow an amazing way to tell of the changes as physical deterioration creeps into once well oiled bones. This has such a visual impact as you take the beam as your focus and your flow and word choice gives this an inevitable determined sadness. Bravo from one working out to try to stave off the knackers yard!

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahaha yes .."stave of the knackers yard" for sure .. ahahahha i am larfing loud over that right now .. i am keeping it in me nog .. and throwing out my .. "keeping the wolves at bay" :))))))))))))))) knacker yard indeed ... thanks so much for reading and taking time to review .. always a blessing my friend
E.

[T.S. Ulmus]

Maybe I'm overly libidinous, but if you replace the word beam in the third line for a female's name this poem reads entirely differently. Probably why I laughed at the line about 4 inches. I got your meeting though, plenty of creeks and cracks myself.

[Einstein Noodle]

yes .. well ... most assuredly changes meaning completely ... you must have been horny :)))))))))))))))) thanks for reading sir .. and sharing your thoughts ... how else can we grow right?!
E.

[PB Jacobs]

Nifty. It never occurred to me to write about a balancing beam. There are so many things in life like this! Kudos for being considerate enough to think about those who have activity that is starting to wind down. Old age is a pain, and I'm only 49!

[Einstein Noodle]

your just a babe PB! ;) i write about it because i go through it .. like most of us do eh!? Thank you for taking time to read and share your impressions ... see you around .. right here at the Cafe' :)
E.

[Robert Trakofler]

oh the creaks I have these days:) I fear I may be paying for my overactive youth today. when i finally turn in this chassis it will not have a very good trade in value! Clever analogy Mr. Einstein but me thinks you still have a pretty good balance even if those feet of yours don't always agree on gravity

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahahaha well yes ... balance is a key isn't it?! i have whats called Meniere's Syndrome which includes migrains, ringing ears, nausea and vertigo .. so a focus on balance has become second nature over the years .. as things spin here and there .. i am fortunate tho because my symptoms have been mild and with a slow progression .. but damned it i won't get up on that beam .. every day eh!? ;))))))))))))))))) love your visits sir .. and your reviewing .. thanks so much!
E.

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Firstly
Old man one of my favourites from Neil young
Loved him since I was about 15
So yeh a lifetime lol
Yes I loved your poem
ESP the Cheshire kit grin at the end

[Einstein Noodle]

:))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) thank you Julie! glad you liked it .. yeah ..Neil Young .. top notch musician songwriter and human being says i!?
E.

[MomzillaNC]

Age creeps over us all, sapping that youthful vitality. Still, we persevere… and that is success.

And, as we all know, "youth is wasted on the young." 😎

[Einstein Noodle]

yes indeed ... and in youth we burn it up :))))))))) love that you are back a bit Ma ... have always appreciated your poetry and input. keep staying safe .. and well always ..

[Paul Bell]

I think if you put your mind to it, you could get up on that bar.
Remember, age is no barrier to somersaulting on said bar.
Then again, the bars are shut and after ten pints you can do anything your other mind lets you do.
Probably why A and E is always full of athletic pensioners. Right, I'm off to do my Olga Corbett routine, probably won't be back for a while.

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahahaha thanks for the belly laurgh at me self and you ... yes .. it at first we can't mount the bar .. a nip or two will do .. that other mind is always a winning place ... thanks for stopping in buddy ... down yer neck!
E.

[Cherrie Palmer]

Not old, second childhood, :)

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahahaha all day every day mon Cherrie!

[Dave Brown]

I find these things have become much easier to lean against rather than attempt to try and climb up onto
Of course that could even be difficult to do eventually
perhaps

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahahaha yes ... maybe a next poem .. "The Leaning Post" :)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) great review Dave! thank you!
E.

[andrew mitchell]

Yes old age the final frontier to go where no old age has been before and how the aches linger! Nicely written Gene.

[andrew mitchell]

I was never good at gymnastics in fear of hurting my family jewels and the associated pain that comes with it so I feared the balance beam when i was young, had to hold back from such dangerous activities and preserve for future fun chasing girls and women in pink skirts! :)

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahahaha ...pink skirts of course :))))) yes .. i wouldn't get up on one for any amount of glory ... i just hung out in the local pool hall ... where all young men knocked their balls around :)))))))) i can hardly believe that no women were aloud in them at that time. ... thanks always for your time and reviews my friend .. i like how you say it .. and would add... every day an age where age has never gone before ...
E.

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

Something tells me you got the cream and the cheese too! The spirit within is the key, my dear E! As long as it burns bright there's nothing you cannot fight. Age is just a number then!

[Einstein Noodle]

i love you response to this Kitty Kat! i agree 100% .. and as a matter of fact ... the cream and cheese are both waiting in the fridge for my next wondrous joy of partaking :)))))))))))))))))))))
E.

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

Ah the joys of life!
You're welcome dear E!

[Einstein Noodle]

:) ....................