Original DDE™ surrealistic art entitled “Contemplation” by: rob kistner © 7/6/24
Three years shy o’80
triumphs and tragedies my truths
hard hustled my way survivin’
leveraging my soul wrestlin’ the blues
once crab slow — time’s a’racin’
carvin’ deeper into my face
sittin’ writin’ verse in contemplation
was this cost worth stayin’ in this race
*
rob kistner © 2024
Poetry at: dVerse
~ So damned thrilled goddess “Lady Blue” is still with us! ~
…unless you’ve died, get some tissue ready…
Stay in the race, Bro, PLEEEZE. You might not think it’s worth it, but I’m sure your readers do. Thanks for a cool quad.
From my heart, thank you Ron. Genuine gratitude for the gracious encouragement my friend. Much of the time it is not a question for me. But there are days of pain, exhaustion and confusion. Those days seem to be coming at me at a greater pace. But hey, I fought the good fight this long… 🙂
Rob, Bono sings, “some days are better than others” and I know you, Cosmic Surfer, know how to ride those waves.
https://youtu.be/H8ofaO5jkfE?si=s1_pN-YIDlpNQXh7
I do Lisa, my friend, thank you… 🙂 but it’s getting harder and harder to paddle out.
Time does seem different as we age, Rob. You’re an important member of this community, and we all appreciate you.
Thank you Merril… 🙂
I hope the cost is worth staying in the race for you. Nicely done poem.
Thank you Arcadia… 🙂
Is the cost worth staying in the race? Hard question when you get older. I may not always comment, but I do enjoy what you write.
Thank you Lisa. It’s nice that you visit and find some joy here. My declining health has made my ability to comment an increasing challenge. I visit and read most linked pieces, and I feel guilty I am able only to comment sparingly, since I understand reciprocation is encouraged and expected. I strive to respond to every comment I receive, even in brevity. Even that is becoming difficult. Siri helps, but then there’s random incorrect spellcheck spasms, so you need to regularly check your spellchecker — frustrating and tiring at times. Been posting to multiple online poetry communities over two decades. I’ve even produced and hosted three in those years (Writers Island, From The Red Chair, and Matinée Muse) that I can remember. Commenting is part of the culture, a symbol of validation. I used to do so, voraciously — at times commenting beyond what was welcome. But now my shortcomings and ailments have made me realize, and appreciate, that sometimes commenting falls beyond the grasp, for whatever reason. Never feel you must comment when you visit Lisa, it is not expected. I no longer collect comments like badges. Truth is, the comments I do receive now make them rare and wonderful — and when they happen, they feel genuine to me.
Keep ‘wrestlin’ the blues’, Rob! There’s an 80-year old at our local pool who can’t walk, hear or see, but once he’s been winched into the water, boy can he swim! Your poems are like fish in the water.
Tell your 80-year-old friend keep swimming Kim that’s all we can do. I’m pleased he finds that outlet for himself. Thank you for your kind words about my poems, my friend… 🙂
Hi Rob,
I’m feeling my age for the first time and it’s rather a shock! But, it’s certainly worth staying in the race.
I always love your poems – they are entertaining and so well written. I especially like your phrase: “leveraging my soul wrestlin’ the blues”. It fills the poem with your character.
Thank you, Kim. I definitely plan on staying in the race. I may stumble from time to time, but I’ll keep running. Life even though it may be challenging is fascinating and I wouldn’t want to miss anything. Thank you for your kind words… 🙂
Time has a way of carving into our souls and leaving indelible marks! Time does seem to be moving much faster at this age!
Very nicely written, Rob.
Yes, Dwight time certainly is a persistent bugger. But the one way we can laugh in his face is to just keep living… 🙂
We love you, Rob! Keep writing as long as you can. Three years shy of 80 is not that old! I love “once crab slow – time is a’racin'”
Take care.
Love you too, Poonam thank you. That was very gracious. I will take care you please take care too… 🙂
That’s a tough, poignant question that almost everyone faces at some point… This really resonates with me, Rob.
~David
I’m pleased to touched you, David. Yes as we get older things get a little bit more confusing that question presses at me but only as a question not as a decision…:)
Keep in the race
at your own pace
in verse there’s a bit of grace
poetry is wondrous to embrace
leaving footprints in cyberspace
if one person benefits from your words you ran a good race…
happy summer, my friend….I always enjoy your poetry
Thank you so much True — and I appreciate your poem here my friend… 🙂
You are valued, my friend! A poignant and lovely poem.
Thank you Sanaa… 🙂