You Will Spend Your Old Age In Comfort And Material Wealth
by
Mary -BrytEyz- Ball
(Age: 38)
copyright 05-14-2008
Age Rating: 7 to 127
"You will spend your old age
In comfort and material wealth"
It didn't say anything about happiness
Or even if I'd have a measure of health
Misfortune finding it's way to my path
Along every trail I choose to tread
Miss Fortune, my misnomer
Reflected in all things written or read
Memories vivid… yet fading it seems
A blushing "Hello!" - A kiss in the park
"Where are they now?" I wonder
Why am I always missing the mark?
"Hottie" in everyone's cell phone
But why can't they see the values inside
Stumbling through this life of mine
Blushing, rushing, cussing, ... and you can't hide!
"You will spend your old age
In comfort and material wealth"
Did I miss the part about finding true love
Or felicity rushing, sidestepping stealth
And what if I don't grow old,
Have you ever thought about that?!
And what if there's no such thing as money
And everyone, even I, have forgotten I'm fat
I see in my mind, that time in truth and rhyme
When everyone will build and have a house to keep
Where we all plant vineyards and drink wine
Without the hunger for an inebriated reprieve that we now seek
That future time when we won't be slaves
To "The Man", any man… or woman, or ourselves… or to lust
That peaceful perfect time when rhymes are real
And everywhere I turn, I find someone I can truly trust
"You will spend your old age
In comfort and material wealth"
What about the coming Paradise, after Armageddon
When we won't toil for nothing, and will have eternal perfect health
Ah, Isaiah 65 echoes a nearly forgotten promise
That my days will be like the days of a tree
Yes! I'll plant and outlive the likes of the Norway Spruce
And the Bristlecone Pines that now taunt and laugh at me
Prometheus, cut down, a king without a crown
For curious eyes to see and glee over your death
Methuselah, the next oldest living tree living in fear of being found
Seekers seeking all around… Heh! Don't hold your breath!
And in this life I am but an infant, a never known memory
Born and old and gone, before those trees can bat a branch at me
But someday, someday I'll live longer than you, someday…
Some way, with Jehovah's strength and promise fulfilled you'll see
"You will spend your old age
In material wealth and comfort"
For now I dream of lions and lambs basking in the lap of luxury
While the ideas of peace and perfection constantly flirt
OLD, I read aloud. "In this world or the next?" I wonder
It says I'll SPEND my old age… like I'm rich
Like I have time to burn, a disgusting excess of years
Wow! I'll live forever! I won't know which day is which!
This life really sucks, you know, no COMFORT here
Seeking TRUTH while your truth keeps looking
Trying to avoid the stumbling blocks and the disaster
This world keeps simmering and cooking
What matters isn't monetary… MATERIAL is immaterial
In this life, I'm such a cub, a newbie… a rookie
I chew… slightly sweet cardboard, slowly crunching, deep in thought
Can't believe I'm looking for truth in a fortune cookie!
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I went to my very first POETRY READING and had a blast. The lady read a few and so did a guest of hers. The rest of the group, as it turned out, were all Jehovah's Witnesses from one congregation or another (Boy, was Gwen sure busy inviting, or what? LOL). Well, it was great. We read many poems that we ourselves had written. The host and her guest read from OTHER people's works. So, I felt pretty good that our poetry we read was... OURS.
Anyway, later in the evening, she passed around a bowl with fortune cookies in it. We all ate one and read what our slips said. Then she assigned us homework, stating that we were to use our fortune slip as our muse, and we could write about our fortune, use the words from our fortune, whatever. The above is my response to what my cookie gave me.
Any questions, just ask! Oh, and by the way, Norway Spruce and the Bristlecone Pines are purported to be the oldest trees known to man... Prometheus and Methuselah are both famous (and the oldest) of the Bristlecone Pines.
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Yes you do get crumbs from cookies, but sometimes crumbs are what you need at the time. Your not fat! I weigh more than you and I'm NOT FAT! We just have more to love! I love you and your works. I am trying to read a little more when I can and your works always inspire me to write. keep em coming! Oh ya, The poem itself raises many questions, but that is what I think life is for,...to find your own answers, because they are different for everyone! Comfort and material wealth, in old age. I was never rich until I gave all I had to those that I found in need! Now I understand why wealth always escaped me...because I was trying to hold on to it and not what was really worth something! See you made me start thinking, Anthony
Always good, another masterpiece from Mary.
I love the idea and I think I will try to write one of my own. very well-written as as all of your fans have come to expect. I could repeat the cliches about imagery, etc. but it is unnecessary, and I;m getting writer's cramp.
Most of your poetry is classic on PnP.
June: Glad you enjoyed the photo. It cracked me up for an entire day or more, every time I thought of it I snickered out loud... which can leave a LOT of people wondering since I work in a bank! LOL
Wayne: Hey Bro! Glad you stopped by, really glad you read, even happier you commented... and I am completely ELATED you liked it! Yay! (Happy dance all around PnP!) I'm off to read some of whatever's posted on YOUR page in a moment. HOpe to find a treasure waiting. :-)
Mike: Mostly what you get from cookies is crumbs! I like that! Hmm... do I hear a poem in the making? I'm in a goofy mood today... perhaps it's time for something lighthearted and humorous. I'll think on that some more.
ALL: Thank you SO MUCH for stopping by to read, rate, and comment on my poem. It really does mean the world to me and I treasure each tid bit of verbal treasure you leave behind. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Mary - I really enjoyed this! What a fun assignment to expand on the "fortune" found in a cookie. That you can take a frivolous tidbit and turn it into a life lesson is testament not only to your firm grounding but to you magical way with words. (Also got a chuckle from the picture) Thanks.....June
Good to hear from you again, Sis,
I've read so much drivel trying to pass for inspirational religious poetry that I still hesitate before reading. But I read and am I glad! What an uplifting expose of this old system. Here's to the new world!
The Chinese are famous for passing off curses as good wishes, and this may be one. "May you live in interesting times." is another. As you rightly point out, the cookie's prophecy leaves a lot to be desired. I enjoyed your poem and I'm glad you have an alternate vision. After all, mostly what you get from cookies is crumbs.
Welcome !
