We who with songs beguile your pilgrimage / And swear that Beauty lives though lilies die, / We Poets of the proud old lineage / Who sing to find your hearts, we know not why ... (James Elroy Flecker)

17.6.25

The Secret Truth of Old Age

 

I’m very occupied.

Honestly.


How?

Telling that 

needs greater honesty.


Almost unknown to myself

I decided:


The time left – mine! –

I choose to use

indulgently.


Once

I did the needful things.


Now I laze about,

reading, eating …

occupied in selfish pleasure


if I’m honest.




Written for dVerse Quadrille #226 – Honestly!


(A dVerse invention, the Quadrille must be exactly 44 words, excluding title, and must include one specific word – in this case, 'honest'.)



24 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great plan. Nice poem.

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  2. Are you offering lessons in that? I could use some..

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  3. Whatever we do, we need to be honest with ourselves.

    Always great to do what we like :)

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    1. I’m not long back from this morning’s aqua aerobics session and am ready to enjoy the secret truth of old age, Rosemary. I’m also ‘very occupied’, but on my own terms. I’ve had my exercise today and the time left s mine to read and eat! We’ve earnt our selfish pleasure!

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  4. Nice one, thanks for dropping by my blog

    Much♡love

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    1. Always nice to drop by your blog, Gillena. Thanks for dropping by mine.

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  5. Sing it Sister!!! We are SO SO SO on that same page.

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  6. No judgement! Our life, our time. Nicely said!

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  7. This is a plan worth emulating...honestly! 😉

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  8. Owning our choices is an act of honesty.

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  9. Being busy doing nothing except to thrive in books sounds wonderful

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    1. I just have to remind myself not to feel guilty!

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  10. Am so glad you're doing exactly what you want to -that's Nirvana...am trying to figure out a path to it...and failing...honestly!

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  11. Beautifully worded Rosemary. I particularly like the repetition of the prompt word in all those different ways, and the last line, after the pacing gap, is my favourite.

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    1. Thank you. It's nice to know you enjoyed it. (I confess I was pleased with that last line and its placement, so it's great to have it appreciated.).

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