Staying active

A funny and touching poem by Living Room reader Roy Barker‚ exploring his thoughts on getting old:

When I am an old man

When I am an old man I shall be happy

I shall wear my old trousers

Shirt that has the stains

I’ll walk to the shops

With my purse and change

I’ll smile to all the ladies who

Don’t like to speak

And with my stick

I’ll shoo cats and dogs away

I will close my eyes and go to sleep

As others speak

In my pocket will be boiled sweets

For friends I meet

Reading newspaper headlines

In the agents shop

I'll sneak out the door

Not meaning to buy

Coughing loud with a croak

People will move away

Some jokes of old I will keep telling.

Even though no one laughs anymore.

Funerals I will attend even though

I do not know who is in the box

Girls in short skirts and blouse so low

I can look and no one cares

When I’m an old man - no one will care

As I search in the dirt for some coin that has dropped

When in hospital - because of being old

I’ll be bold and ask

Nurses to fetch me things I do not need

When asked to cough - I won’t cover my mouth

I’ll lay and press the buzzer

To fetch a nurse

When she comes I will pretend to sleep

When I’m really old - I will not speak

I will just listen until I go to sleep

But I will be happy.