Can You Be More Than a Poet?

I love writing poetry–it’s the expression of my heart and soul, but I write prose also. So can you be more than a poet? A writer? A wordsmith? An Author?

I’m all of those and more! Are you?

Here’s my most recent poem–enjoy!

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Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The View Down and The View Up

Larada Horner-Miller

The view down is different today!

At exercise class

sitting on my mat cross-legged, I looked down at my belly.

Recently, I lost fifteen pounds;

the bulge of my tummy has shrunk!

I love the loss!

My tummy doesn’t stick out like before.

The shrinkage is good!

Having just turned sixty-five.

I see my body changing,

delightful yet sad!

Arthritis cripples several fingers

and my thumbs.

Once I had straight lovely fingers,

hands I loved to view.

Now I see my mom’s and grandma’s hands

crooked and achy,

where mine used to be.

I still wear beautiful turquoise rings;

pain screams through the beauty.

My right knee hints of hurting today.

I have a brace I keep handy

just in case.

Arthritis too!

As I age,

the worst part so far–

I pee my pants

when I cough

when I sneeze

when I laugh too hard.

Thankfully, pads ended years ago

when my period stopped.

I celebrated.

Now I have returned to pads

for protection

for safety

for security.

I fear an inexplicable puddle.

Will Depends be in my future?

Dance

exercise

Zumba

movement

massage

keep my body nimble, limber and moving.

Writing

reading

meaty conversations

laughter

friends

responsibilities

keep my mind nimble, flexible and alive.

Facing this next phase of life,

I wonder?

I want to meet and greet

the elderly Larada.

I want to accept her limits,

to challenge her mindset,

to embrace her idiosyncrasies.

I don’t see me as a feeble ole lady

wearing nylons rolled up to my knees

wobbling unsure.

I will continue to wear hot pink and leggings

wobbling with style and grace.

I want to redefine being

a Senior Citizen.

I have “Hot Tamale” red spiked hair

instead of gray.

I saw the gray and white coming

and opted to hold onto my youth.

And besides,

I’m a red head at heart,

because of my red headed father.[image error]

I’m young at heart.

I’m trim today

because I have to be.

Echoes of family genetics

keep me steadfast.

My maternal grandmother and her sisters

overweight German stock.

I have a life partner

that shares my attitudes.

We travel and enjoy life.

We laugh. We talk. We dance.

We start many days with a rousing Cribbage game.

He’s older than me

and

I watch his wise ways

of handling these changes.

I have dear friends and family who encourage me

to be the authentic Larada God created me to be.

The future is bright.

The day is calm.

Serenity overflows.

I like all of me

the helpless baby I was

the energetic five-year-old

the obnoxious thirteen-year-old

the sixty-five-year-old crone

I honor each one and their influence on me today.

Yes, years bring wisdom

patience

acceptance

a strong knowing

I’m ready

for God’s next phase

a new uncharted adventure

The view up at this glorious world graces my day.

A verdant green forest of pinon pine

A luscious purple mesa lit up at sunset

Cholla cactus in full fuchsia bloom

My fifteen-year-old Siamese cat who struggles

with feline diabetes yet meows his love to me

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Summer newness exploding in our garden

with anticipation

and joy






The view down

into my soul

I like what I see!

The view up

out of my world

reaches to the clouds and back.

I’m ready!

I would love to hear your thoughts about aging–is 65 the new 45?

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For more of my writing, visit my web site: https://www.laradasbooks.com

Or go to my Etsy Shop for End of Summer Specials: Larada’s Reading Loft

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