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Carpe Diem
by Chris Sorrenti
How odd
A home for the elderly
located beside community party hall
residents sunning themselves
in wheelchairs and walkers
watch silently
as we tape balloons and streamers
set up the barbecue on patio
while from inside
ghetto blasted hard rock
incentive for us to work faster
before the crowd arrives
for T-bone and disco
Upon finishing the decorations
I glance over at my stone faced neighbors
and just as they for a moment perhaps
think back to happier times
I move forward some forty years
In the hours that follow
I eat, laugh, and dance
as never before
© 1999
1,160 hits as of December 2023
03/09/2014 Author's Note: Made the short list in the Ray Burrell Award contest (2002). Later, published (along with other poems) in the broadsheet: Reflections In A Time Machine (May 2003), Chris Sorrenti (Ottawa, Canada). Produced by Heather Ferguson.
Posted on 03/09/2014
Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Sam Roberts on 03/09/14 at 08:37 PM Beautiful, I love the compassion you have in this. Living each day to the fullest. A line that jumped out at me was - Stone faced neighbours. Yes, the age will take us all. We must eat, laugh and dance as never before.. before age creeps up on us. |
| Posted by Laura Doom on 03/10/14 at 07:28 PM Only 25 to go Chris--I trust you seized those 5000+ intervening days... |
| Posted by Quentin S Clingerman on 03/13/14 at 03:09 PM A thoughtful look at what must come in life -- we better enjoy it while we may. You make your point in sharp contrasts. |
| Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 03/14/14 at 01:38 AM There's nothing quite like a look at the future to get one moving in the now. I like how you laid out the contrasts here, Chris. |
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