Denied but not Defeated

When spectacles no longer

can make my vision clear

and loud rock music in my past

makes it harder now to hear

And when my spouse of many years

got sick, forgot, and died

and our plans to be together

were permanently denied

Old age you thought you’d got my best

suppressed my will to fight

but though you’ve dimmed my windows

you have yet to stop the light

Though my energy is waning

and I’ve aches in back and knees

I still smell the evening jasmine

still kick back in night’s cool breeze

And I remember the intensity

that comes with being young

our fight for right and justice

and the folk songs that were sung

With my gentle dog beside me

in autumn’s weakening sun

though you’ve blocked me and denied me

I still smile and know I’ve won.