Here
it is, almost the end of April and I just found out that
April is National Poetry Month, (who knew???) It was established
by the Academy of American Poets in 1996 to achieve an increase
in the visibility, presence and accessibility of poetry
in our culture. Personally, I like Maya Angelou's description,
"Poetry is music written for the human voice".
One such voice belongs to a charming and active 92 year
old that I was privileged to meet recently. Blanche Newman,
born in West Haven, was raised by her two brothers and later
her high school English teacher when both her parents died
while she was still quite young. Blanche says for as long
as she can recall she has always enjoyed writing poetry.
I'm
92 - So What?
What do you
wear when you turn 92?
Is
an old lady's purple the color for you?
Must you wear those awful flat ugly shoes
or
be careful the kind of jew'lry you choose?
How should one talk at that ripe old age?
Be
childlike or speak like a wise old sage?
Should one sit with hands folded and quietly act
as
though nothing important do you know for a fact.
Do doctors advise you of what not to eat --
give
pills by the dozens and scold if you cheat?
Drink plenty of water - (that you should know!)
and
exercise daily but keep it real slow?
Take an afternoon nap; go early to bed?
Read
a book or do puzzles; they're good for the head.
Is it proper to laugh at improper jokes
or
should you be solemn like elderly folks?
Should you act like the child so that your children
can play
the
role of parents and let them helpfully say,
"Now mother, show down; please take my soft chair.
Would
you like a ride in this nice summer air?"
Well, little children, I want you to see
that
I don't intend to be no one but ME!
I'll wear dangling earrings -- but not from my nose!
I'll
even wear jeans or black slinky hose.
I'll get up and dance if a partner I find
and
I'll even give folks a piece of my mind!
I'll say what I please and may even look
for
a boyfriend or two instead of a book.
I'll stay up till dawn and sleep when I choose,
I'll
throw out the pills and bring out the booze.
A child I am not. I've been there before.
If
I want a ride, the bus comes to my door.
I'll live my life fully; I love being free,
So
I'll heartily laugh till I reach 93!
Blanche
Newman 3/08
Lost
Writings
The poetry
and prose within me
were begging to come out.
The songs I sang within my heart
were silenced by self-doubt.
They cried for me to share them;
I cried they could not know
that fear that I would lose them
meant I could not let them go.
But now I sometimes wonder
what my writings might have been
if I had only listened
to the voices from within.
I could have shared the fragrance
along the paths my feet had trod,
And shared the warmth of
summer sun upon my garden sod.
My words of prose or poetry
might have filled an empty space
in someone else's longing
to see a friendly face.
Perhaps it's time to find them;
to look at them anew
And find the courage it may take
to share them all with you.
Blanche
Newman (May 2007)
Jean Cherni
is founder of Senior Living Solutions, a retirement advisory
service. Contact her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or
15 The Ponds, Branford 06405.
H. Pearce Company REALTORS®
is a full-service real estate company with more than 100
agents and branch offices in greater New Haven and the Shoreline.
Corporate and & Commercial offices are located in North
Haven, where the company was founded in 1958. All listings
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