Saturday, August 09, 2008

For Jo


When we are old, have lost our minds,
and too much history lurks behind,
the tea we share instead of gin,
and going out means staying in.

We'll laugh still, at our beige adventures,
and help each other find our dentures,
that fill our aging, sagging cheeks,
and the glasses, missing for weeks,
that lurk beneath your spreading ass,
lost in chintzy, cushioned gas.

You and I will face the end,
knowing that we had a friend,
who once danced naked in the rain,
when life was running down the drain.

So, we'll reminisce over spent seasons,
and piss our pants for other reasons,
because friendship stands when love falls down,
and red will still be our painted town,
but I bagsy that lacy dressing gown.

.

30 comments:

Debi said...

Lovely. There's a definite style difference between those two though, isn't there?

The chintzy dressing gown wins out over the rumpled sock and horn-rimmed glasses look every time.

Never mind, Jo. You got a great poem even if your style is due to plummet any time now ...

Yodood said...

Wonderful poem, I just hope you feel the same way in thirty, fourty years

Unknown said...

She's already arguing over it, Debi. As you have met Jo, you know that she is far from un-stylish, the rumpled sock is more me, I think, but don't tell her that!

G&G? Yodood? Look at you - all full beardy. Do you have a lacy dressing gown I could nick?

Sharon J said...

I needed a laugh today and you just gave me one. Thanks :)

Unknown said...

The pic is great isn't, Sharon? Jo sent me this a while back to cheer me up. It is sisters, Florence and Rose, who have lived together since being widowed in their forties.
The card says "Life is nothing without friendship" - it sits above my pooter.

Unknown said...

Brilliant!!

Anonymous said...

"...lost in chintzy, cushioned gas."
Truly my favorite line!

Somehow I imagine you being quite ornery for your entire life.

Unknown said...

She is, John G.

I have long been fascinated with the Merkan word 'ornery', Leslie, and cantankerous I may be but I am aware that the word is a derivitive of 'ordinary' - NO! Absolutely no.

Roberta said...

Fitting tribute Minx!

"Ornary" isn't a dirivative of "ordinary". It means "Mischievious". :)

Pronounced: "Ahhnry" (In this neck of the woods)

And that's your lesson in Merkan for today!

Unknown said...

Is it one of those words that has a different meaning in every American neck of the woods, because according to every dictionary....

or·ner·y
–adjective, -ner·i·er, -ner·i·est.
1. ugly and unpleasant in disposition or temper: No one can get along with my ornery cousin.
2. stubborn: I can't do a thing with that ornery mule.
3. low or vile.
4. inferior or common; ordinary.
[Origin: 1790–1800; contr. of ordinary]


SEE! Ordinary. Tut!

Beatrice V said...

Oh Minx you are such a warm hearted softie, this is lovely, your friend is lucky. Of course this is very funny, but there is also such affection shining through.

Roberta said...

or·ner·y
–adjective, -ner·i·er, -ner·i·est.
1. ugly and unpleasant in disposition or temper: No one can get along with my ornery cousin.
2. stubborn: I can't do a thing with that ornery mule.
3. low or vile.
4. inferior or common; ordinary.
[Origin: 1790–1800; contr. of ordinary]

I don't give a shit WHAT the dictionary says. "Aaaahnry" means you have a sly grin and a twinkle in your eye and everyone laughs because you got away with it when you were sticking it to them!

TuT!

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

I just love you tons Minx, but Roberta's right.

It is exactly as she said. It is only pronounced a little differently here and there throughout Merika.

This poem reminds me of another one that's similar... "When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple"
Do you know that one Minx?

It's so good that the idea of it started a revolution here in the states and now there are thousands upon thousands of women 50+ years old who go about in social groups and who all wear purple with red hats.

Quite fantastic; I can't wait till I am old enough to join it.
I'm going to take up with one of the groups that drinks gin and plays poker on Sunday mornings.

Scarlett & Viaggiatore

Unknown said...

No, Wordcrafter, I am very lucky. Jo is part of the infamous Gin Club - they are my soul sisters.

'Twinkle' I like, Roberta, but I never stick it to anyone, do I?

I love that poem, Scarlett...

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit.

Don't wait to join, Scarlett, start your own!

Unknown said...

I love this Minx, there's such a great thread of humour running through it.

Unknown said...

I'm saving the serious stuff for when I get old, Babs!

Jan said...

WOW!
It all sounds almost worth looking forwards to!!

Unknown said...

I think it might be, Jan, I am looking forward to knickers of sizeable proportions myself.

bulletholes said...

bagsy?
Do "bagsy" mean what I think it do?

In these parts, "ornery" has pert near become a term of endearment...

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

If you join the red hat society early (before 50), they let you wear lilac and pink instead of red and purple...

I'm not interested in anything other than the real thing; it seems like a facade to me...
I want red and purple dang it!

Do they have this group in England yet? Is it international?


Scarlett & Viaggiatore

Unknown said...

Bullets, 'bagsy' means to claim something (to put it in the bag) - like 'dibs'?
Oh shite, now it's an endearment?


I dunno, Scarlett, but we do have our fair share of weird old ladies walking around!

petra michelle; Whose role is it anyway? said...

Just love your wit and style! Am glad that you came by my way to say hello. Thank you. And if you don't mind, must add your blog to my list, so I'll be able to find you again. Petra

Unknown said...

John G emailed me a nudge in your poetical direction, Petra, you should thank him.

And if anyone is interested, I am completely pissed off with all this rain.

fatboysblogg said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I started a firestorm of orneriness!
Yes, Minx, as bulletholes said, a term of endearment.
And Roberta describes well the 'twinkle'. Devilishness, of sorts.
It's one of those "we wouldn't tease ya if we didn't love ya" sort of things.
And it is always better to be pissed off than pissed on.

Unknown said...

Rain, cool weather, global warming? bollocks!

Unknown said...

Shh, you'll wake me houseguests!

Anonymous said...

Loved it! Not quite there but I'm getting the picture.

Mellifluous Dark said...

I love that poem, Minx. It's funny and poignant, especially this verse:

You and I will face the end,
knowing that we had a friend,
who once danced naked in the rain,
when life was running down the drain.

Unknown said...

Thank you both, took me a while to get back here, sorry.