My response to Doris Emmett’s Post-a-Day.

We are surrounded by words and phrases that neatly and conveniently mask or cover-up something much more deep  seated, challenging or complex; real issues and fundamental concerns, that become more palatable, easier to distance ourselves from and ignore or live with, when parcelled up in a neat, sometimes glib or euphemistic, word or phrase.  

 As I have almost completed ten years of living as a septuagenarian and I see the ominous deadline when I will officially become an octogenarian approaching, I feel I can safely sit and ponder on words that seem to be particularly significant.

 EQUILIBRIUM

Welcome aboard the good ship Equilibrium

Often tossed and shattered by the storms of life,

Battered by waves of discontent or sadness.

Sometimes sailing fair in a calm sweet wind

Sailing smoothly through life on an even keel.

Guided by warm breezes with a steady wheel.

Sometimes with lovebirds, sometimes with crows,

Equilibrium balances the highs and the lows.

–

The delicate balance of the Equilibrium

Can be altered or adjusted to reflect a whim.

Remove a comforter from a baby’s mouth

Equilibrium is instantly noisily shattered.

With howls and tears and eyes that are wet

The comfort-zone, considerably upset.

Sometimes with lovebirds, sometimes with crows,

 Equilibrium balances the highs and the lows. 

–

 Does the Equilibrium adjust as the body ages

Altering, reshaping to take in new parameters?

When we are young we fall deeply in love

The mind is soaring, love is all that matters.

With hearts beating faster and eyes dilated

The world has more colour, almost recreated.

Sometimes with lovebirds, sometimes with crows,

Equilibrium balances the highs and the lows.

–

How do you measure Equilibrium, always changing?

In youth Equilibrium is dynamic, always rearranging.

A senior citizen, a new direction, becoming a retiree.

The time when Equilibrium becomes shaky and weak

With many falls, hands shaking and joints that ache.

By what criteria do we judge Equilibrium?

Sometimes with lovebirds, sometimes with crows,

Equilibrium balances the highs and the lows.

–

Memories crowd in, that sometimes disturb,

Altering the balance of the Equilibrium.

Upsetting the delicate balance of thought.

Memories of long gone very close friends.

As age becomes us and leads to quiet pleasure

Equilibrium is surely impossible to measure.

Sometimes with lovebirds, sometimes with crows,

Equilibrium balances the highs and the lows.  

–

We cling to the promise and hope forever after,

 Unique equilibrium will always be balanced. 

–

EQUILIBRIUM IS SURELY IMPOSSIBLE TO MEASURE!

©️ John Yeo