‘Give Praise for These Days of Old Age’: A Poem by Jeff Eardley

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Give Praise for These Days of Old Age

You’re up in the morning, you moan and you groan,
You’re feeling the grinding of bone against bone.
When your knees have embarked on a life of their own,
_Then give praise for these days of old age.

You’re down at the bus-stop and feeling so blue,
The kids call you “Cringey” but what can you do?
When the town undertaker keeps smiling at you,
_Then give praise for these days of old age.

Your teeth are all broken, your hair’s dropping out,
You may have arthritis, but it’s probably gout.
You keep falling over when trying on socks,
And every new day brings a few nasty shocks.

So, keep yourself sharp, don’t wind up in a pickle,
And keep a close eye on that guy with the sickle.
He’s coming for you, so the best you can do
__Is give praise for these days,
__These fabulous days,
_These wonderful days of old age.

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Jeff Eardley lives in the heart of England near to the Peak District National Park and is a local musician playing guitar, mandolin and piano steeped in the music of America, including the likes of Ry Cooder, Paul Simon, and particularly Hank Williams.

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