I love writing poetry–it’s the expression of my heart and soul, but I write prose also. So can you be more than a poet? A writer? A wordsmith? An Author?
I’m all of those and more! Are you?
Here’s my most recent poem–enjoy!
The View Down and The View Up
Larada Horner-Miller
The view down is different today!
At exercise class
sitting on my mat cross-legged, I looked down at my belly.
Recently, I lost fifteen pounds;
the bulge of my tummy has shrunk!
I love the loss!
My tummy doesn’t stick out like before.
The shrinkage is good!
Having just turned sixty-five.
I see my body changing,
delightful yet sad!
Arthritis cripples several fingers
and my thumbs.
Once I had straight lovely fingers,
hands I loved to view.
Now I see my mom’s and grandma’s hands
crooked and achy,
where mine used to be.
I still wear beautiful turquoise rings;
pain screams through the beauty.
My right knee hints of hurting today.
I have a brace I keep handy
just in case.
Arthritis too!
As I age,
the worst part so far–
I pee my pants
when I cough
when I sneeze
when I laugh too hard.
Thankfully, pads ended years ago
when my period stopped.
I celebrated.
Now I have returned to pads
for protection
for safety
for security.
I fear an inexplicable puddle.
Will Depends be in my future?
Dance
exercise
Zumba
movement
massage
keep my body nimble, limber and moving.
Writing
reading
meaty conversations
laughter
friends
responsibilities
keep my mind nimble, flexible and alive.
Facing this next phase of life,
I wonder?
I want to meet and greet
the elderly Larada.
I want to accept her limits,
to challenge her mindset,
to embrace her idiosyncrasies.
I don’t see me as a feeble ole lady
wearing nylons rolled up to my knees
wobbling unsure.
I will continue to wear hot pink and leggings
wobbling with style and grace.
I want to redefine being
a Senior Citizen.
I have “Hot Tamale” red spiked hair
instead of gray.
I saw the gray and white coming
and opted to hold onto my youth.
And besides,
I’m a red head at heart,
because of my red headed father.
I’m young at heart.
I’m trim today
because I have to be.
Echoes of family genetics
keep me steadfast.
My maternal grandmother and her sisters
overweight German stock.
I have a life partner
that shares my attitudes.
We travel and enjoy life.
We laugh. We talk. We dance.
We start many days with a rousing Cribbage game.
He’s older than me
and
I watch his wise ways
of handling these changes.
I have dear friends and family who encourage me
to be the authentic Larada God created me to be.
The future is bright.
The day is calm.
Serenity overflows.
I like all of me
the helpless baby I was
the energetic five-year-old
the obnoxious thirteen-year-old
the sixty-five-year-old crone
I honor each one and their influence on me today.
Yes, years bring wisdom
patience
acceptance
a strong knowing
I’m ready
for God’s next phase
a new uncharted adventure
The view up at this glorious world graces my day.
A verdant green forest of pinon pine
A luscious purple mesa lit up at sunset
Cholla cactus in full fuchsia bloom
My fifteen-year-old Siamese cat who struggles
with feline diabetes yet meows his love to me
Summer newness exploding in our garden
with anticipation
and joy
The view down
into my soul
I like what I see!
The view up
out of my world
reaches to the clouds and back.
I’m ready!
I would love to hear your thoughts about aging–is 65 the new 45?
For more of my writing, visit my web site: https://www.laradasbooks.com
Or go to my Etsy Shop for End of Summer Specials: Larada’s Reading Loft
