Category Archives: Aging

Fragility

Posted on January 30, 2021 by sputterpub

My mother knew a woman once who diedfrom vomiting, when she was 52.I heard the retching caused a stroke that friedher brain and took her life. The story’s true.It made me understand how powerfula normal body function can turn outto … Continue reading →

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Doom

Posted on January 26, 2021 by sputterpub

Remembering the radiation burna worker suffered when his plant misfired,and how it shocked my consciousness to learnthat doom can be as silent as it’s dire,concealing symptoms while it works within,and killing surely though it takes some time…although we still have … Continue reading →

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Cough

Posted on December 26, 2020 by sputterpub

Apparently there’s peril in a cough,if chronic and emitted by an oldex-smoker who asserts she knocked it offbut still bums hits (her habit is paroledwhich should be locked for life). It isn’t boldto finally and permanently steminhaling smoke. My breath … Continue reading →

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I Couldn’t Have Been More Wrong

Posted on December 25, 2020 by sputterpub

When I was young I thought I had good teeth.I felt my hands were handsome, in my prime.I didn’t dream of damage far beneathmy gums, or plumpness suctioned out by time.I thought my lumbar wouldn’t give me pain –my bottom-heavy … Continue reading →

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One Medical

Posted on December 24, 2020 by sputterpub

I hadn’t seen a doctor in two years.I know I’m wearing old and should be screened,but mine retired. I was in arrearstwo months before the virus intervened. I found a new practitioner and wentlast week to meet and check my … Continue reading →

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Temp

Posted on December 19, 2020 by sputterpub

I used to be plumper and seldom felt cold.I liked 68 degrees.But now I’ve lost weight and I’ve gotten so old,my hands every afternoon freeze. I’ve always liked winter for hunkering in.I’m fond of the fireplace view.But now with my … Continue reading →

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The Boy and the Bullock

Posted on December 16, 2020 by sputterpub

I heard a story once, about a boywho hoisted in the air a newborn bull,determined to each morning re-employhis muscles as the bullock grew. At fullsize he would surely raise the beast, he thought.That attitude seemed accurate to me.But long … Continue reading →

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Yard Work

Posted on December 12, 2020 by sputterpub

I aimed to collect the debrisno longer attached to the tree.I knelt on the groundto amass what I found,and now my low back’s paining me.

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We Never Covered Cousins

Posted on December 10, 2020 by sputterpub

I’ve always been a talker, partly sobecause I love good words and memory,but also to invite my friends to showthemselves with narrative and history.At 20 I was sure I understoodmy closest friends – we talked incessantly.I think we thought our … Continue reading →

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Doing

Posted on December 4, 2020 by sputterpub

I didn’t want to exercise today.Considering a break, I thought I mightjust hunker down and snuggle, in the wayI did when I was young and slept all night.But something in my body seemed to say“Just try it. You can stop … Continue reading →

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