
These five stages of grief are: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
~Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
Acceptance turns to nostalgia
as I turn 75 tomorrow
Another year added to a long
interesting life
There is a sense of grief at this age
looking back and looking forward
Grief for the loss of what once was
realizing change is inevitable
Watching the next generation
moving on without you
Knowing someday, they too
will look back wishing
they had asked more questions
of the living
The future is a bit unsettling as
control may be forfeited
to someone else’s care
I pray that will not happen
I have wrestled with God
Argued with him threatened him
and been angry with him
At this point in life I have made
my peace with God and eternity
Some things are better left unknown
The subtle losses seem to hurt the most
There is anger at the changes that
occur in our physical bodies
The ringing in the ears, the loss of hearing
All that extra weight that comes on slowly
The medical field has no sensitivity
to body shaming, calling me obese
How is that any different than saying
you’re fat
Yet I am thankful I can still function
slower and with less energy but still going
Joints and muscles ache more at this age
but still remain relatively strong
My life’s work has been traded for
a more sedentary style of living
I look back and dream of what once was
Knowing memories are all we have
I listen to the old songs and relish
the pleasure of visions they hold
But joy comes in the grandchildren
so full of life and possibilities
I pray that they will find the strength
to face the realities of a changing world
and still show love and compassion
for those around them
It has been a long life and this, a long poem
So I think it is best to stop here.
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Today at d’Verse, Lisa asked us to consider the five stages of grief and choose one to write our poem. Since tomorrow is my 75th birthday I chose to write about acceptance. I have kicked and screamed, so to speak, throughout my life. I still grumble and complain about the changes taking place, but for the most part I feel like I have made my peace with my life and am in a place of acceptance. Letting go is very difficult, but in reality we never really have control in this life.
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