Ten Ages of Life

A Concrete Poem by Professor Joe Goldblatt

1

Being a TEEN was KEEN

2

Twenty was PLENTY

3

Thirty

was

DIRTY

4

Forty was

NAU

G

H

T

Y

5

Fifty was NIFTY

6

Sixty was

SEN

SATIONAL!

7

Seventy is HEAVENLY

and SURPRISING

8

could be

JUST GREAT!

9

Nine

might be

REALLY FINE

10

And One Oh Oh …

Might be …

TIME

TO

GO!

Descriptive Key to the Ten Ages of Life

1 Smoking pot, wearing a kaftan and sandals, very long hair, smelling of patchouli oil, and sporting a leather fringed hand bag.

2 Adulting soon emerged with real responsibilities and first and only great love.

3 The reality of hard work and getting my hands dirty in business.

4 The last gasp of youth before I experienced wisdom.

5 Wisdom emerges as more and more people ask for my advice.

6 I discover new senses such as my painful knees, neck, elbows, shoulders and more.

7 Having survived the sensational sixties I expected the seventies to be heavenly. They are instead surprising due to the number of illnesses and deaths of friends and family members.

8 I have high hopes that if I protect my health and step back from more and more volunteer commitments eight will be truly great!

9 I think when I reach my tenth decade, when asked how am I feeling, I shall quietly reply “fine”.

10 When I hopefully reach One Oh Oh, I have a feeling it might then be time to gently go. I hope so!