Feelings of aging aches beginning
Creeping in
Creeping in
In morning high snapping
Of joints and bones
Accompanied by deeper moans and groans

My reflection stares back at me now
Whiskered face
Whiskered face
The puffy eyes not younger
The hair I had retreating
I surrendered the troops to a clipper working

I wonder if Dad felt this way too
Numb to time
Numb to time
Boys running circles
Around his life
Did he have time to enjoy the sunsets?

you said that aging is collecting ghosts
of everyone who enters your life and leaves
my collection, ambitious, I think of them daily
haunted by those I've loved and lost

Remember when you were fifteen
And that boy at school was really keen.
He turned and looked at you in Maths,
Then distracted you from paragraphs
By the way his eyes look when he laughs.
Remember when you were twenty
And male admirers were aplenty.
Before the days of internet dating,
On fleek brows, playas and hating,
Checking likes to assess your rating.
Remember the days when you were thirty,
Evenings spent with nappies *****.
Lack of sleep and funds were low,
Rarely out you'd get to go,
But baby love kept you aglow.
Remember the days when you were forty,
A bottle of wine the heights of naughty.
Tired after a long commute,
Buttons straining on the suit,
Teenage angst along to boot.
Remember the days when you were fifty,
Kids at Uni - must be thrifty!
Mum showing signs of losing her mind,
Face shows the years have not been kind,
Marriage more and more a bind.

Think of all that's yet to come,
And hope that you will find someone,
Who reminds you of all the dreams,
You had in Maths at age fifteen.

Always looking out into the distance,

there is much beyond the window.

Today it’s dappled light, a reminder of Hopkins, from the days of childhood.

Childhood - what is that? So many memories, so long ago;

Getting old is not easy, so many friends ageing so quickly and more travelling beyond the distance, beyond the window.

How is it for me and my family and friends?

My own special mother?

Just heard some old ladies in the ferry say:

Oh, to be young again!

Indeed, to be young again.

@Tom Stodulka)

Hello everyone,

  I'm so very sorry … I feel horrible doing this, but I have no choice. You see, I have published my first book on Amazon/Kindle! This piece (and many others) had to be taken down because they do not allow published material to be available online for free. (Go figure) I wanted to leave the shell of the posts because I felt compelled to leave all your helpful and loving comments. (Silly sentimental, I know), but I also didn't want to just have the pieces disappear without an explanation. I feel bad enough as it is!

  I owe ALL of you so, SO much for all of your reads, love, and support. It was YOU that gave me the gumption to FINALLY get off my **** and publish! Thank you all for the warm comments, camaraderie, and encouragement! I will still be here, reading, uploading and just being the Rascal that I am. How could I EVER leave you guys?

  The book is called “The Way I See It – FictionPhilosophySoul Food” and it will be FREE for the first few days on Kindle Select, so watch for it, if you are interested. I hope that you go and grab it. If you do, I would also hope that you find it worthy, you would leave me a good review. That will help me get in the public eye! Soon afterward (2-3 days or so), it will be available in paperback.

Find the book(s) here: www.amazon.com/author/jeff.gaines

Or find the book(s), and all about me, here: www.JeffGaines.world

  Soon after, I also hope to have my first novel (a supernatural thriller), called “Wanderer” available as well!

  Wish me luck!
Big, Biggest Love,
        Jeff Gaines