In all these sixty years
my inner ears retain a
smoothness of youth –
my son says that I get
younger each year – in
truth I feel it – ageing’s
discomforts – no going
back & all that – Decay
will be noted – hairline
retreats & looser teeth
those autumn drops – I
will fight all thickening
of gut & nails [savour a
kind remark about my
skin – booze an enemy]
& uprear those weights
ten times more – lifting
my self from surrender
& that comfortable slip
into doing less & into a
state of late age shaver