Lining of Silver

Lining of Silver

I woke up old this morning.

My legs would not easily swing

Over the side of the bed.

My eyes were unfocused

As I stumbled down the hall. Unfamiliar aches traveled

Up and down my body.

My hands found no strength

To open stubborn lids.

My hands shook as I

Grasped my first coffee.

My back stiffened as I eased into

The recliner.

Everything on the television

Was too loud and my neck was

Too stiff to turn and check the time.

My legs would not push me out of the chair

On command and someone inside me

Groaned as I stood.

No one noticed anything different

But the world looked harder to me.

Things I couldn’t do

Lurked around each corner.

Strength I couldn’t find

laughed at each new attempt.

A friend I just visited last week

Lay still in a funeral home

That I was too tired to visit.

I was too afraid to sleep, though

As my stiff body ached to relax.

My thoughts scattered as I tried to remember

Anything.

When had every little thing become so hard?

Then I remembered the only thing-

I woke up old this morning but

I woke up.