Not Just A Number
Age Contest58 total reviews
Comment from rjuselius
this is written with a tongue placed firmly on the cheek. very poignant yet hilarious in its own weight. well deserved win.
thank you for sharing!
blessings and a super squeeze!
rebekka x
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2019
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this is written with a tongue placed firmly on the cheek. very poignant yet hilarious in its own weight. well deserved win.
thank you for sharing!
blessings and a super squeeze!
rebekka x
Comment Written 14-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2019
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Why thanks again!
Comment from Patty Palmer
A very nice poem! It might be just a number but my body reminds me always what number it is!! And I don't like that number! But then again, the alternative is not so good neither!
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2019
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A very nice poem! It might be just a number but my body reminds me always what number it is!! And I don't like that number! But then again, the alternative is not so good neither!
Comment Written 14-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2019
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Ha, thanks, Patricia!
Comment from Ava Wilson
Another excellent poem, Chip! I love that you used a picture of your father to go with this poem. I have to say that the poem makes me think of my own father who just turned 80 in February. He retired at 65 but has still not slowed down and works harder then most of the younger generation. You described the struggle perfectly of someone that is aging and can't escape time but is still young at heart.
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2019
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Another excellent poem, Chip! I love that you used a picture of your father to go with this poem. I have to say that the poem makes me think of my own father who just turned 80 in February. He retired at 65 but has still not slowed down and works harder then most of the younger generation. You described the struggle perfectly of someone that is aging and can't escape time but is still young at heart.
Comment Written 14-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2019
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Thanks again, Ava! Good for your Dad. Mine would still be working if he could, he retired just before 70 but did contract works another 5 or 6 years because he loved it. Thanks for reading and sharing!
Comment from victor 66
Chip, this is a very nice tribute to your father. My philosophy, through most of the years of my life, has been to watch others and pick out traits that I admired and wanted to emulate. I am not 90 years old, but I am 72 and your poem, with the author notes, makes me feel that I want to be more like your Dad. If you're a father, happy Father's Day. Best wishes.
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2019
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Chip, this is a very nice tribute to your father. My philosophy, through most of the years of my life, has been to watch others and pick out traits that I admired and wanted to emulate. I am not 90 years old, but I am 72 and your poem, with the author notes, makes me feel that I want to be more like your Dad. If you're a father, happy Father's Day. Best wishes.
Comment Written 14-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2019
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I wish to be more like him myself, Victor. Thank you for sharing your words and philosophy. That serves us as writers as well.
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You are most welcome, Chip.
Comment from Bill Schott
This poem, Not Just a Number, presented in four rhyming couplets, is a terrific send up for your ninety-year-old father. Hope to be one one day as well. Here's to one hundred.
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2019
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This poem, Not Just a Number, presented in four rhyming couplets, is a terrific send up for your ninety-year-old father. Hope to be one one day as well. Here's to one hundred.
Comment Written 14-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2019
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Many thanks, Bill, I think he might just make it! I appreciate the kind review and generous rating!
Comment from A. Willow Bends
This is just so upbeat and wonderful! Love the part about ninety being the new sixty! So true as we live longer. Thank you for including the author notes. Wonderful you still have him and that he is able to live independently and I understand about the driving part. I have a sister with Parkinsons. When do we say NO MORE? I see you won this particular contest and it is clear why! Great job and congrats!
Wendy
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2019
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This is just so upbeat and wonderful! Love the part about ninety being the new sixty! So true as we live longer. Thank you for including the author notes. Wonderful you still have him and that he is able to live independently and I understand about the driving part. I have a sister with Parkinsons. When do we say NO MORE? I see you won this particular contest and it is clear why! Great job and congrats!
Wendy
Comment Written 14-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2019
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Thank you so much, Wendy!
Comment from closetpoetjester
Indeed it IS just a number
I have a 93 year old mum and she is quite agile for her age but it still worries me as she lives alone. With that said, she thrives on her independence and I am there as much as I can be for her but let her do her thing. She has arthritic shoulders from her nursing days so she could relate to your Dad's poor old knee. I think her knees aren't that great either as she has told me before if she got down on them she probably wouldn't get back up LOL
Sad but true.
Great poem and tell Pops good luck with the pain management.
Cheers P
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2019
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Indeed it IS just a number
I have a 93 year old mum and she is quite agile for her age but it still worries me as she lives alone. With that said, she thrives on her independence and I am there as much as I can be for her but let her do her thing. She has arthritic shoulders from her nursing days so she could relate to your Dad's poor old knee. I think her knees aren't that great either as she has told me before if she got down on them she probably wouldn't get back up LOL
Sad but true.
Great poem and tell Pops good luck with the pain management.
Cheers P
Comment Written 14-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2019
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Thanks so much, P! Best to your mum too, bless her heart.
Comment from Ms. Snyder
90 huh? You are so lucky to have him with you still! My dad passed two days shy of his 78th birthday and in July it will be a decade that I've been without him. He would have been 88 this July. I bet he served in the Korean War? I bet he and my dad had a lot in common. I think it is a great picture and I wanted to review this before it won first place as I really enjoyed the entire poem. It made me immediately think of someone else though - not my dad because I never thought of my dad as old. I thought of him as sick, but never old. There was a lady I knew who was 80 and she was a spitfire but she had some of these complaints with the humor. It just brought me back to the time when I hung around an 80-year-old and she kept me laughing. Thank you for sharing something so personal and special and hopefully, you will have him around a lot longer! Happy Father's day! Cheers, Fonda
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2019
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90 huh? You are so lucky to have him with you still! My dad passed two days shy of his 78th birthday and in July it will be a decade that I've been without him. He would have been 88 this July. I bet he served in the Korean War? I bet he and my dad had a lot in common. I think it is a great picture and I wanted to review this before it won first place as I really enjoyed the entire poem. It made me immediately think of someone else though - not my dad because I never thought of my dad as old. I thought of him as sick, but never old. There was a lady I knew who was 80 and she was a spitfire but she had some of these complaints with the humor. It just brought me back to the time when I hung around an 80-year-old and she kept me laughing. Thank you for sharing something so personal and special and hopefully, you will have him around a lot longer! Happy Father's day! Cheers, Fonda
Comment Written 14-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 14-Jun-2019
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Thanks for tasking the time to share about your folks, Fonda! I lost my mother at 74- she just took a nap and never woke up. My Dad was a WWII vet though he never saw action, he was a submariner.
Comment from Debbie Pope
Well, Chip, I can certainly see why this one won. What a tribute to your dad. My mom will be 90 in September, but she lies in the bedroom next to mine, and she is on Hospice. Your dad is truly remarkable. That driving thing is a horrible problem. Take the keys away, and you kill him. It's pretty much that simple.
Your conclusion is good, wise even, but I like the wit of lines 2, 4, and 6. I especially like line 2.
Congratulations on the win.
reply by the author on 13-Jun-2019
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Well, Chip, I can certainly see why this one won. What a tribute to your dad. My mom will be 90 in September, but she lies in the bedroom next to mine, and she is on Hospice. Your dad is truly remarkable. That driving thing is a horrible problem. Take the keys away, and you kill him. It's pretty much that simple.
Your conclusion is good, wise even, but I like the wit of lines 2, 4, and 6. I especially like line 2.
Congratulations on the win.
Comment Written 13-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 13-Jun-2019
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Thank you so much for the kind words and for sharing your story. It's beautiful that you are so close to your Mom at this stage, though undoubtedly not easy. My Dad doesn't drive much (less than once/week), and usually only to the gym. But his neurologist and primary doctor have said no more, so it's now a safety matter for him and others. Physically he's fine, but his short term memory is nearly non-existent. He's still full of life, though!
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You can blame it on the doctor. That's very helpful.
Comment from phil nelson
You did a great job projecting yourself into the thoughts of a 90 year young man. I had a bit of difficulty with the rhythm but your rhymes were very good . I must admit that I couldn't figure out the requirement of two lines four stanzas but I assume that you got it. Good luck in the contest
All the Best
Phil
reply by the author on 13-Jun-2019
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You did a great job projecting yourself into the thoughts of a 90 year young man. I had a bit of difficulty with the rhythm but your rhymes were very good . I must admit that I couldn't figure out the requirement of two lines four stanzas but I assume that you got it. Good luck in the contest
All the Best
Phil
Comment Written 13-Jun-2019
reply by the author on 13-Jun-2019
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Thanks, Phil! As a non-poet for all practical purposes, I prefer to get enough words in to convey my feelings at the expense of rhythm sometimes. Needed the rhyme to meet the criteria- would have preferred to sacrifice that!
