Ethan at Ninety

When Ethan thought he was very old
at eighty eight
he couldn’t imagine a life more challenging.
Those broken ribs, muscle tears,
heart like a butterfly twitching.

In two years he turned around
he was that slow.
time not so
and he felt the absence of long-time friends.
Impaired walking and driving followed.

So much peering out from the window
chickadees and blossoms,
so much computer and TV, reading —
days and nights without plans.

Robert A. Davies has published in recent years largely online. He has been writing poems seriously since 1969. He has published Timber, Tracks in Oregon, Melons and Mendelssohn, and Bluff Hollow. He was co-editor of Mr. Cogito for about 20 years. He has recently appeared in Dissident Voice and Windfall He can be reached at: rjdavies3@comcast.net. Read other articles by Robert A..