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Still Counting

by Kristina Woodhill

last night we sat
in a circle of friendship
lifting our cups and drinking
full our shared lives

the banker expat
working in Uganda
counting the months
until his return from
his assignment

the entrepreneur
of fine plants and fine gifts
counting the days of
the remaining sale

the teacher counting
on a few more days
to sleep in before the
school bell rings

the farmer
lately heart attack survivor
counting himself amazed
at his recovery and keeping
us apprised of his lost weight
and his vital signs

the youngest gal still
counting her back lucky
to have cheated
the surgeon's knife

the former chef
now maintaining
little old ladies' garden
dreams and schemes
each counting on him
for what they can no
longer do

the retiree still
grinning from ear to ear
and counting each day
a fine day to play

and amidst all
of this catching up
and celebration

someone asks

so who's the oldest
one here?

And we laugh and trickle
down through the years
and find our places
in the calendar
before midnight finishes
turning another page

01/01/2008

Posted on 01/01/2008
Copyright © 2025 Kristina Woodhill

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Charlie Morgan on 01/01/08 at 05:24 PM

...kristina, i thought this was site was supposed to be for amateurs...mylady, i started to waltz w/ this pome, then about 8 or so lines, she started spinning and whirling me, this pome is tall, i want you to know that i'm impressed, but don't want you to know that this pome is sooooo tall it is astounding, that would sound maudlin, so i'll say that i'm envious because i love word(shortages-kind of thingee) and you wrote it instead of me...a the way you allow a few lines to "show" a whole human in a capsule...out done yourself!...peace, chaz

Posted by Charlie Morgan on 01/01/08 at 05:26 PM

...of course, faves...peace chaz

Posted by A. Paige White on 01/01/08 at 06:37 PM

You painted the circle wonderfully well of your New Year's still counting. Great New Year's poem!

Posted by Alison McKenzie on 01/01/08 at 06:45 PM

Nice group to bring in the new year with!!! Lovely descriptives, made them all alive!

Posted by Mary Frances Spencer on 01/01/08 at 08:14 PM

We are all trickling down through the years! Nicely done. MFS

Posted by Melissa Arel on 01/02/08 at 04:32 PM

wonderful through & through!

Posted by Mara Meade on 01/04/08 at 10:03 PM

It's not just the poem, its how lovingly but economically described each character. This is a keeper on the Fav's list. Wish I could have been there.

Posted by Philip F De Pinto on 01/05/08 at 01:22 PM

each vignette is alive with proof that there are lives which are being played out similar yet varying from our own, and the last stanza is the kicker, the match that sparks the fuel inside this vehicle and sends it reeling toward the universe which is the heart.

Posted by George Hoerner on 01/05/08 at 04:24 PM

Yes, that calendar which none escape and that circle of friends of life encompassing us all. Very well done.

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