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OLD MAN ON THE MOUNTAIN

The road's gravel groans a bit
as I park on its wide shoulder
then I sneeze and cough and finally spit
on a granite roadside boulder.

Here on Parsons' Mountain side
I look around at the steep hills
where huge hardwood trees abide
whose shadows lend to autumn's chills.

All the leaves are painted now
and scattered cherry trees are bare
on these slopes that never felt a plow
which around here is pretty rare.

These deep woods look about the same
as they did four long decades ago
and they still hold deer and other game.
I scan hollows where I now can't go.

For I'm no longer what I was:
strong of leg and deep of breath,
time being the main blame and cause.
An old man being stalked by death.

Overhead a flock of wild geese fly
newcomers unlike all the deer.
I watch them disappear and sigh.
Like them I'll one day leave from here.

Style / type: 
Structured: Western
Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Editing stage: 
Content level: 
Not Explicit Content

Comments

The fewer lines I scribble out the better? lmao.The sigh /high thing.....I used sigh to insert a bit of sad wistfulness

author comment

to have offended your dainty sensibilities lol. This stanza was written so as to humanize the protagonist......I had originally thought to make him fart lol

author comment

I really like this piece! it does remind me of the things I can no longer do, like winter sports. skiing for the greater part (and ice skating) my legs will not have it, especially my knees. but I remember, oh do I remember...

*hugs, Cat

*
When someone reads your work
And responds, please be courteous
And reply in kind, thanks.

I am always kind of surprised when a minor edit leads to a comment lol. The fact that bad knees lead us to be limited and no longer able to go places we once went is a true tragedy...... oh well, at least I can still walk through woods which are not too steep. Thanks for dropping by

author comment
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