A Sort of Battered Kettle at the Heel

[poliphilo]

You know Yeats' poem "The Tower"? I never used to get it. He summons up all these historical and legendary people and asks them their opinion of old age and they give him a funny look and he dismisses them.

Well I get it now.

I used to think the people he'd summoned at such length should actually say something. But what? What is there to say about old age? The body gets slack and painful and inefficient and eventually conks out. It happens to everyone and there's nothing that can be done about it. God save us from miserable old people who natter on and on about their aches and pains.

I must try not to become one myself. But it's hard. I had a bad night last night (fearful indigestion) and I was lying there raging against the body. I don't like being this tiresome old crock. I want to run and jump and climb trees and make love several times a day and sleep sweetly at night and wake up refreshed.

This is the paragraph that should contain the answer. It should suggest following a middle way between acceptance and revolt. The "wisdom of old age" might get a mention. Yeah, right....

Comments

I am sorry

[mtl.livejournal.com]

you did not sleep well and do not feel good. This will pass and you will not feel tiresome but refreshed. We all should run and jump and feel joy, but this will not happen all the time.

I hope you will feel better.

Re: I am sorry

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thank you. You're very sweet. I love the card.