Serendipitous Thoughts of My Future

I’m north of 60 now
it’s time to admit
I never could decide
what I wanted to be
when I grew up.
I wanted to be
everything
–try
everything–
God knows I tried
to try everything!
Now
my joints ache
and I complain
like an old lady
while I wonder
“What am I going to do
with the rest of my life?”
Because
in spite of my
very best efforts
I haven’t done it all;
and besides,
there are one or two things
I’d really like to do again
(and again)
before I go.

And when I go
remember that I will
still
be
here
in
so many ways.
A good bit of me will be food —
if not for animals
then for the soil —
passing life on.

Some of me will escape
into the air
asĀ  steam
— evaporated —
to one day
join with other molecules
(perhaps I’ll know some of them)
and fall to earth
somewhere else
again
passing life on.

The children of my children
continue the branching
of our family tree
each carrying
the sacred light
lit in ancient times
and passing it on.
That was always the mission.
It was always about the light.
It was never about me.
I have succeeded
in spite of myself!

notdead020713

About Sharon

Like anyone who lives long enough, I have experienced great loss and survived. I am convinced that my survival depends on my own participation in creating the reality I am living in, and I am determined to be a thoughtful and active participant/creator. These writings are my way of documenting that creation. As the song goes, "I will survive!" I chose the title Staying Vertical because I find that surviving isn't just staying on my feet physically. Keeping my thoughts and emotions on the vertical plane keeps me alive and moving forward. Thanks for joining me!
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6 Responses to Serendipitous Thoughts of My Future

  1. Raymond Keen says:

    In this poem by Sharon Frizzell is the beautiful and serene acceptance of Life!

  2. I love your reflections, Sharon. Envious of your ability to write thought-provoking poetry. Hmmm, maybe you’ll inspire me to look into that form of writing more. I’ve really only done free verse and it’s all intuitive, not studied. Of course, that may be how you do it too …
    you’re
    oh, so
    good at it.

    laf

  3. Laura Haskell says:

    so uplifting Sharon, wonderful poetry..

  4. Sherry says:

    I always thought you beautiful.
    You know, always full of beauty
    A bow (who can spell beau anyway?)
    Of tea (and sympathy and frankness)
    and fruitful (with family or frankness)
    or just full (of fun or homily).
    Isn’t that the heart of it,
    to be that kind of honest
    sharing yourself withgrace
    (okay, so not always graceful).
    You know, it made you wild
    and happiness filled us
    (because of you).
    See?
    Life always thought you beautiful, too.
    ~ser

    And I mean it.

    • Sharon says:

      How sweet to find your lovely compliment when I opened the site today, Sherry! I am verklempt! Thank you! I am going to float out and take care of the quotidian concerns of the day with the fuel of your sweet words carrying me forward!

      • Sherry says:

        Ah, I do enjoy surprising you. Thanks!

        Seriously, been a long time since I made anyone verklempt. I can still hear you say it after all this time. Be well, dear friend.

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