Sunday, January 3, 2010

Trampolining!




CARRY ON TUESDAY
 
The first line, in blue, is taken from the poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox.


TRAMPOLINING!

We laugh, we weep, we  hope, we fear!
Trampolining! Like last year!
One second down! Then up we go!
But now we're old at least we know
That just as night will follow day
Life will always work this way.
When I was young and I felt down
All creation seemed to frown.
'This is the end' I used to sigh;
'I'm a failure! Life, goodbye!'
If Cupid ever turned his back
I wore eternal mourning black.
Conversely, if I won a race
Or someone liked my youthful face
I'd feel quite certain I was winning.
A life of triumph was beginning!
I was the greatest. I was best.
Head and shoulders above the rest.
And so I sort of bounced through life,
Up for joy and down for strife.
But old age has its compensations;
(I write this for younger generations.)
'Win some, lose some' becomes the creed;
Very useful words indeed.
O.K. I never soar to heights
Experiencing wild delights.
But neither do I spiral down
Feeling a blackguard or a clown.
You'd say I'm on an even keel;
A comfortable way to feel.
With caution I'm still trampolining.
(Life's variety gives it meaning.)
But each leap is a little hop;
Not far to fall each time I drop!
The young may scoff, they like to leap,
Reach the sun, fall in a heap.
But I have found serenity.
'Win some, lose some', that's for me.
*
 
More introspection here:
http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2008/10/176-knack.html
 
 

10 comments:

keiths ramblings said...

This is just great. I'd never considered life to be like a trampoline. I tried one a while ago, but as I bounced up, other bits of me seemed to get left behind, and when I came down I passed them on their way up! Resolution - lose weight (again!)

Unknown said...

Oh, I think this is one of your best! Loved it!

Anonymous said...

Hi, loved the photo, so happy.
Enjoyed the first third of poem, then wandered off. I blame the tv remote for the A.D.D world we now live in, maybe it should be A.D.Dvertising !!!
Takakow

Stan Ski said...

Great ups and downs.

sarah said...

I really liked this, although like Takakow I am not usually good with longer poems :-)

madeline d. murray said...

This is a great read. It has real bounce! Thank you

Jessie said...

enjoyable indeed. it bounces with life!

smiles,

Anonymous said...

This is so uplifting. :)

Anonymous said...

Great rhythm here and yes, very uplifting. I enjoyed reading this, and I never thought of life as a trampoline either.

Time Escapes Us

Anonymous said...

Damn.

You have a heart of a King,

the soul of a jester,

I feel like a thief.

GPK