A Seniors Moment

I Wrote a Poem Just Now

A text conversation between two ancient, stoner friends

Adelia: It just occurred to me that we rely more and more on emoticons in texts than actual words. Who needs words when AI can do it? This is my new panic.

Dan: I wrote a poem just now.

I know you because I know me I know the despair of wearing ragged emotions, the moaning escapes, imprisoned in the guts it contorts the face with intensity and once more, bails the boat.

I see your happy face, not a lie, a mask you wear over history, searching backroads, choices that were not really choices voices that were not your voices explaining why you were wrong.

In waning days the grief is deep and cannot be assuaged by busy days or dreamless sleep, nor by the frantic turning of tarot cards, discarding the 13th trump like brass from a spent cartridge.

A: I’m literally sobbing and blowing my nose right not. Now. The second stanza knocked my breath out of me.

D: I thought you needed a good punch in the gut. lol

A: Please publish this. As my dearly departed poetry mentor would say in praise, “highly evocative!”

D: I wrote it really quickly. I should not make light of it. It is how I am feeling right now.

A: It’s how I’m feeling.

D: I thought so. I think it’s how a lot of us are feeling.

A: Yes. Cathy and I went on a long walk today and talked about these feelings. Not sure if it’s because of what’s happening in the world, or if it’s our age, or what….

D: I think it’s our age.

A: Yeah. Probably. “Age” in terms of everything we’ve experienced. Not so much in number of years, or health, fitness, etc. Experiences. I have experienced mucho mucho mucho.

D: Age as in we are running out of life.

A: And instead of feeling happy remembering fun stuff, I feel sad because I don’t have that (whatever) anymore. This is why I’m freaking out about my gummy supply.

D: For me it’s more that I can’t change anything, and for some things can’t forgive myself. Then I pick myself up, dust myself off, etc.

A: Yep. Exactly. I guess we have to cycle through all that deep shit now and then. I hate it when it happens though. Usually means I’m not busy enough having adventures or writing about them.

D: I think it needs to happen, like bailing out a boat.

A: Or cleaning out the septic tank.

D: I like my metaphor better.

A: You can. However, mine is more accurate.

Thanks for reading! Shadowgnosis & Adelia Ritchie

Authors’ note: Yes, this is how we talk. You want more? Check this out: