An Older Age

By Richard L. Provencher

Sat, 20 Aug 2011

A gray-haired gentleman
holds onto specs
morning paper on lap,
porch canopy handy when heat
visits your trailer site at 32 C

flower pots sprinkle the lot,
Impatiens and Gladiolas colouring
his view

Muffins asleep at his feet, Ida
staring from the sofa, cruel
Alzheimer's taking root

on the swing next door
children are singing
"Old MacDonald had a barn,"
verses changed, voices
laughing and carrying on

a smile warms his wrinkled face
remembers canoeing and
long walks with his wife,
now a home-made sign says it all --
Ida, John and Muffins.