Oh How We Laughed

[dafydd manton]

You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
No, but you can teach him
A whole new vocabulary.
Diabetes
Biopsy
Endoscopy
Co-codamol
Simvastatin
Ramipril
Metformin
Citalopram.

Once, they were words that existed,
But in somebody else's world.
Not yours.
Then, you were invincible.
You raced, sometimes you won.
You played, sometimes you lost.
You worked hard
Played hard,
Flew,
Flirted,
Drank.
And laughed
Oh, how you laughed.
You laughed at each other,
You laughed at the system
You laughed at danger.
But you laughed.

Now, you still laugh,
You never stop,
Because if you stop,
You go mad.
You laugh, and you try to make others
Laugh.
But trust me,
As you laugh, the thought occurs.
Getting older is better than the alternative.
Ha Ha.
Yet getting older is anything
But funny.

[Maryd.]

Wow... Quite a tale D.
Well done sir.

[dafydd manton]

Thanks, Mary! I wouldn't mind if it were fiction!! However, next thing is some plastic surgery. Cosmetic? No, I swallowed a frisbee!

[Maryd.]

Ok, different...

[dafydd manton]

Different? Now I'm deeply wounded - spurned, even. It was meant to be funny! Am I losing it, at last? Does the Care Home call? Matron?

[Bar22do]

So the addressee is the same very special person... and your poem tearing. Let's laugh instead!

Best - Bar

[dafydd manton]

No, the poem is about the fact that I felt really ill when I wrote it, and dreadully sorry for myself. I was having a bit of a wallow in the slough of self-despond, and I think it's back-fired a bit. Autobiography is not a good idea! Thanks for the comment, though, Bar, much appreciated. (Still don't feel much like laughing!)

[Maryd.]

Well D, I don't think you are as old and frail as you say in the poem... Just breathe it out... You'll be right.

[dafydd manton]

Pass me my glasses so that I can read that. Now the magnifying glass. Where did I put that Zimmer frame? Who am I? Where am I?

[Haunted]

Quite a lesson in vocabulary. I'm sure one day I'll learn all of them and then some. Despite the grim picture of aging the poem is fun to read.

[dafydd manton]

Thanks H. I really appreciate your comments The list is just a list of the drugs that I call breakfast these days. Despite it being a bit miserable, I'm so glad you found it fun. Thanks so much!

[PrinceMyshkin]

Can you teach your dog to say: Brilliant!

[Jerrybaldy]

Brilliant Daffy
I take the ramipril with you and a couple of others. Oh how weak those Crumblies used to look with their little pots of pills. And look at me now Ma!!
And the use of laughter to get you through the ageing day. The sadness behind the comic etc.
Loved it mate
Jerry

[dafydd manton]

Did you mean the avatar? If you did, my photography is worse than I thought - it's a dragon!! Thanks for the comment!!! All will be pleased to know that I am up, taking sustenance and thinking about a medicinal brandy!

[dafydd manton]

Brilliant Daffy
I take the ramipril with you and a couple of others. Oh how weak those Crumblies used to look with their little pots of pills. And look at me now Ma!!
And the use of laughter to get you through the ageing day. The sadness behind the comic etc.
Loved it mate
Jerry

If I was feeling rubbish before, I'm certainly not now! Wrinklies of the world unite! Cheers, chum - you're a star! :thumbsup:

[Haunted]

oh dear, breakfast is no fun :( but hope you eat something better for lunch. May I suggest medicinal marijuana. You'll actually forget about getting old for a few hours.

[dafydd manton]

Thanks for thought H! I tried the stuff in 1972, and hated it. Made me feel awful for days. Similarly, I have to be a bit wary with alcohol. I'm not addicted or anything, but after 15 years Air Force service, I trained quite a bit with the stuff, and can drink ridiculous amounts. At one time I was drinking one and a half 0.7L bottles of brandy every day, which ain't clever, so I usually stick to a bit of red wine now and again. That and having a good laugh!!!

[Hawkman]

I thought your poem was very expressive, dafydd, but you didn't mention the constant pain, I can't tell you where I get mine, there are more of them than I'd like, that's for sure, but a good laugh certainly helps. Best I can manage at the moment is a wry smile.
so thanks for that at least :D

Best, H

[dafydd manton]

It was gloomy enough as it was!! I didn't want people throwing themselves off ledges.

[Jerrybaldy]

It was never gloomy in my eyes, just a destination designed for others, surely, surely, not us.

[Bar22do]

__ and it reminded me of a sad personal experience I recently put in verse and will post sometime. thanks again. Bar