Life Begins At Eighty

Yes, life begins at eighty. It is true.
You get excused all kinds of nasty chores
like washing dishes. As for gardening you
just say you're far too frail, must stay indoors.

You do feel up to telly food and games,
describing how life was between the wars.
Pretending to be deaf or daft are claims
which never tall to silence crashing bores.

Come lunch-time, you can log it to the table
then aver that indigestion gives you pause.
A large postprandial brandy gets you stable
before the most uninhibited of snores.

At half past three, you rouse for tea. You've found
that exercise is best kept to the jaws.
At eighty you're so proud to be around,
you think you're due a big round of applause.

Dorothy Pope