Slowing Down or Falling

I live in a retirement community and it seems someone is always falling: stumbling over a rug or a raised sidewalk curb not to mention after climbing up a ladder. I remember falling when young or twisting an ankle, but I seemed to rebound in a short amount of time. With aging, the body bounces back slower. So I decided to write a poem about an experience I had last Sunday.

HURRYING

Off to another important meeting

rushing out the door,

jumping in the car

only to discover I'm falling.

My foot slips on the garage floor,

my ankle turns, I land on my knee

then my elbow, my bottom, next

comes the head. I'm flat, but not out.

All this in a few seconds gives me

a real surprise. Now I'm no longer

caring for others, but I'm the one needing

help. Slowly I sit up, look around then stand.

Grateful that nothing seems broken,

I change my small high heels for flats

then return to the scene of the accident.

Slowly ease into the car and drive away.

Lesson learned...slow down, enjoy

the journey. Who knows when it may end,

suddenly without announcement. After

seventy-four years I should know that.