Reflections From a Senior Citizen

Dorothy Kligerman

I used to talk of fun and games
Now I talk of aches and pains.
I used to paint the town bright red
Now at nine I am in bed.

I used to dream of lovers bold.
Now if truth be told
The only men who interest me
Are those with a medical degree.

"Why," you ask, "have they such clout?"
Well--we have so much to talk about:
There's my arthritis and stenosis,
Hypertension, scoliosis.

In a cozy room, alone, we chat.
We never have a lover's spat.
So keep your handsome Romeos
I'll always take those medicos!


About the poet:

I am ninety-five years old, widowed, with three married children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. My first published work appeared in February, 1931, in The Record Book of my graduating class of Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia. It was not until the 1980s that my work appeared in print again. I was a reporter for the Mt. Airy Express, writing on assignment twice monthly and actually being paid! The paper folded at the end of that decade. Again there was a hiatus, until in 2006 I enrolled at TARP (Temple Association for Retired Persons), sponsored by Temple University, which offered many classes for senior citizens. I chose the Poetry Workshop, led by the energetic and inspirational Peggy Walsh McKenna. I am grateful to her.

About the poem:

At ninety-five, I do have aches and pains, and I am grateful to all of my doctors for keeping me well.

Poetry editors:

Judy Schaefer and Johanna Shapiro

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