A Moment In Time
Quote from DavidFullard on December 26, 2023, 4:15 pmAn old man stood despondently and looked into a mirror
And what he saw sent down his back, a shard, an ice cold shiver.
A haggard face well lived within and eyes that once shone bright,
Now cataracts of life’s dark pains reflected in the light.
He’s aged now he must admit, despite his protestations
His flabby gut, his sun bleached skin, his failing concentration,
Are signs he knows of edging still much nearer to the day
When Karma reaps its’ just reward, The Reaper has his way.
Age lines are etched deep in his face, his beard is winter white
His mindset scorched by drugs and death and failing is his sight.
His cancer pains have left for now yet still they may return
To fill his brain with angst and fear and make his stomach churn
He lives his life as best he can accepting aches and pains
Just minor ailments far outweighed by chemo’s toxic gains.
He’s grateful for those extra years now added to his life,
To spend amongst his family, his grandkids and his wife.
But sometimes in the abyss of the darkness of the night
If sleep is absent even after, turning out the light.
Deep from within the recesses, the graveyard of his mind
A waking dream pervades his thoughts and turns his psyche blind.
Blind to all but thinking of his children dead and past
And wondering if this Christmas now might be his very last.
His children snatched away from him, life’s journey far too quick
His darling son aged just one month, his daughter forty six.
He lifts his maudlin, downcast eyes and stares into the mirror,
A light is glaring back at him, invoking one last shiver.
He may be old with aches and pains, worries angst and tears
But life is still quite wonderful, despite the painful years.
He makes a vow to live each day as if it were his last
The cares and pains of yesteryear now firmly in the past
For age is just a number….that defines a year of birth
God gave us all a certain time to spend here on his earth
I wrote these lines over a 6 month period during the days of my chemotherapy regimen when I was able to half way function as a human being. I was in quite a dark place and alternated between the broad spectrum of hope and despair. I thought I might share my words with my friends on here. i’m not sure it’s finished yet Lol.
An old man stood despondently and looked into a mirror
And what he saw sent down his back, a shard, an ice cold shiver.
A haggard face well lived within and eyes that once shone bright,
Now cataracts of life’s dark pains reflected in the light.
He’s aged now he must admit, despite his protestations
His flabby gut, his sun bleached skin, his failing concentration,
Are signs he knows of edging still much nearer to the day
When Karma reaps its’ just reward, The Reaper has his way.
Age lines are etched deep in his face, his beard is winter white
His mindset scorched by drugs and death and failing is his sight.
His cancer pains have left for now yet still they may return
To fill his brain with angst and fear and make his stomach churn
He lives his life as best he can accepting aches and pains
Just minor ailments far outweighed by chemo’s toxic gains.
He’s grateful for those extra years now added to his life,
To spend amongst his family, his grandkids and his wife.
But sometimes in the abyss of the darkness of the night
If sleep is absent even after, turning out the light.
Deep from within the recesses, the graveyard of his mind
A waking dream pervades his thoughts and turns his psyche blind.
Blind to all but thinking of his children dead and past
And wondering if this Christmas now might be his very last.
His children snatched away from him, life’s journey far too quick
His darling son aged just one month, his daughter forty six.
He lifts his maudlin, downcast eyes and stares into the mirror,
A light is glaring back at him, invoking one last shiver.
He may be old with aches and pains, worries angst and tears
But life is still quite wonderful, despite the painful years.
He makes a vow to live each day as if it were his last
The cares and pains of yesteryear now firmly in the past
For age is just a number….that defines a year of birth
God gave us all a certain time to spend here on his earth
I wrote these lines over a 6 month period during the days of my chemotherapy regimen when I was able to half way function as a human being. I was in quite a dark place and alternated between the broad spectrum of hope and despair. I thought I might share my words with my friends on here. i’m not sure it’s finished yet Lol.
Quote from Cliff_C on December 26, 2023, 4:42 pmDave, outwith the chemo, I am sure that in one way or other there are a few verses which a lot of the readers will think to themselves "aye, thats me". Well done, keep at the poetry, it certainly is meaningful.
I've got bad news for you though! Every time I think about my old SSM, I picture him in the squash court wearing his whites. We played a match in Paderborn, cant remember who it was against but I do remember you wearing your skin tight very short shorts and tight looking tee-shirt and to quote your poem "his flabby gut". Yes it was you, you gave me a lift to the court.
All the very best and keep up the good work.
Cliff
Dave, outwith the chemo, I am sure that in one way or other there are a few verses which a lot of the readers will think to themselves "aye, thats me". Well done, keep at the poetry, it certainly is meaningful.
I've got bad news for you though! Every time I think about my old SSM, I picture him in the squash court wearing his whites. We played a match in Paderborn, cant remember who it was against but I do remember you wearing your skin tight very short shorts and tight looking tee-shirt and to quote your poem "his flabby gut". Yes it was you, you gave me a lift to the court.
All the very best and keep up the good work.
Cliff
Quote from Bob Riley on December 26, 2023, 6:06 pmDavid not bad for a hammerchewer ,yes as we age then look at photos of yesteryear as we take our meds for this or that thinking wow is that me in the mirror,to tell the TRUTH I’m not that bothered ,just putting my shoes on or climb some stairs that’s my main concern,oh and I’ve outlived all my close family Mum/Dad/Brother and Sister . Am I on borrowed time ? I don’t care just living my life now without my SOUL MATE is hard enough. Off to Goa for a couple of months with the friends I’ve got out there with ,maybe I’ll enjoy myself,take care GUYS.
David not bad for a hammerchewer ,yes as we age then look at photos of yesteryear as we take our meds for this or that thinking wow is that me in the mirror,to tell the TRUTH I’m not that bothered ,just putting my shoes on or climb some stairs that’s my main concern,oh and I’ve outlived all my close family Mum/Dad/Brother and Sister . Am I on borrowed time ? I don’t care just living my life now without my SOUL MATE is hard enough. Off to Goa for a couple of months with the friends I’ve got out there with ,maybe I’ll enjoy myself,take care GUYS.
Quote from DavidFullard on December 26, 2023, 6:48 pmCliff, it was against 15/19th H. I am not sensitive about things, certainly not that far back anyway but re the ‘flabby gut’ when I was SSM HQ Sqn I was a fitness fanatic, certainly had no gut then. Now. IF it had been when I was Unit Accountant…..you would be correct.
I ran 5 miles almost every lunchtime often with Colin Donnelly and Chris McGarrell. I came 15th in the Regt Cross Country, 4th placed senior rank behind Benny Bennett, Dave Wooliscroft and Bryn Evans. At my Commissioning PULHEEMS ( not long after that squash match I weighed 12 stone at 5’10’’.Re -reading the above it DOES sound as if I AM sensitive about it Lol , I’m not, I wore Fred Perry shorts that I wore to play regimental tennis. Perhaps i am sensitive Lol . Nah it was nearly 40 years ago, who gives a sh*t.As an aside in that match ( we got beaten) I played the 15/19th QM an old friend of JKs from JLR called ? …his name escapes me, John he was the guy who the bullies in JLR were made to box. Tall Geordie, really nice guy. Name?
Cliff, it was against 15/19th H. I am not sensitive about things, certainly not that far back anyway but re the ‘flabby gut’ when I was SSM HQ Sqn I was a fitness fanatic, certainly had no gut then. Now. IF it had been when I was Unit Accountant…..you would be correct.
I ran 5 miles almost every lunchtime often with Colin Donnelly and Chris McGarrell. I came 15th in the Regt Cross Country, 4th placed senior rank behind Benny Bennett, Dave Wooliscroft and Bryn Evans. At my Commissioning PULHEEMS ( not long after that squash match I weighed 12 stone at 5’10’’.Re -reading the above it DOES sound as if I AM sensitive about it Lol , I’m not, I wore Fred Perry shorts that I wore to play regimental tennis. Perhaps i am sensitive Lol . Nah it was nearly 40 years ago, who gives a sh*t.
As an aside in that match ( we got beaten) I played the 15/19th QM an old friend of JKs from JLR called ? …his name escapes me, John he was the guy who the bullies in JLR were made to box. Tall Geordie, really nice guy. Name?
Quote from DavidFullard on December 26, 2023, 7:17 pmBob, took me a while to compute ‘hammerchewer’ with amateur Lol. I hope you find peace in Goa and I hope you DO enjoy it. Kay would certainly want you to. Stay safe old chum. D.
Bob, took me a while to compute ‘hammerchewer’ with amateur Lol. I hope you find peace in Goa and I hope you DO enjoy it. Kay would certainly want you to. Stay safe old chum. D.
Quote from jkwebster06 on December 27, 2023, 10:16 pmJohnny Christian (now RIP I heard). Lt Col Jolly 13/18th used Johnny Christian , a brilliant boxer, to take any bully boy into the gym and knock 10 piles of sh*t out of them - they never bullied again. Can you imagine that happening these days !?! His adult boxing career was cut short due to problems with his hands / wrists. With regards your poem David, I KNEW after just the first few lines that it was a self portrait - very well written . John (JKW)
Johnny Christian (now RIP I heard). Lt Col Jolly 13/18th used Johnny Christian , a brilliant boxer, to take any bully boy into the gym and knock 10 piles of sh*t out of them - they never bullied again. Can you imagine that happening these days !?! His adult boxing career was cut short due to problems with his hands / wrists. With regards your poem David, I KNEW after just the first few lines that it was a self portrait - very well written . John (JKW)
Quote from DavidFullard on December 28, 2023, 12:57 amThanks John it was indeed JC. Really nice guy.I always forget his name despite him being legendary in JLR. In my day at least.
Re the poem. Thank you for your kind words. I thought hard about sharing it, it’s a very personal insight into my life. Like Cliff says there are parts of it that probably resonate with many others. D.
Thanks John it was indeed JC. Really nice guy.I always forget his name despite him being legendary in JLR. In my day at least.
Re the poem. Thank you for your kind words. I thought hard about sharing it, it’s a very personal insight into my life. Like Cliff says there are parts of it that probably resonate with many others. D.