Growing Old Disgracefully

Good morning all. I recently read some wise words about the positive aspects of ageing, and they inspired me to write this poem in my local Geordie vernacular. Please note that each of my “poyems” comes complete with its own Oxford English health warning. Many perfect vowels and consonants have been ill-treated in the production of this work… for which I make no apology. My writings are specifically aimed at a North-Eastern audience, or at those who have an interest in regional dialect. So criticise the quality of the verse or of the dialogue by all means, but to complain that “it’s not in proper English” is to rather miss the whole point of it… Yes dear reader… that has really happened..
“Ye hev te laugh, man…” :-)
Growin’ Old Disgracefully…
As years gan by an ah reflect on hoo ah’ve spent me time,
Ah’m mair content aboot mesel’, not like when in me prime,
Ahll sorts o’ limitations stood firmly in me way,
Definin’ just what ah could dee on any given day.
Noo ah’m retired, the bairns ahll grown, at whork an’ deein’ well,
Ah’ve reached that lovely stage in life when ah can please mesel’.
Ah’ve knahn some fowk whee’ve passed away, it’s ahlwus sad te me,
But sadder still if at the end, thuh nivvah quite broke free,
An’ did those things that feed the soul, stuff on thuh’re bucket list,
Just quietly te slip away, with ahll those chances missed.
Agein’ liberates yuh, if yuh’ll only seize the day,
So much te see an’ dee oot there, an’ nee-one in yuh’re way.
Nee clock dictatin’ when an’ where, yuh’re not a fashion slave,
Yuh set yuh’re ain conditions, on hoo yuh will behave.
Not bothered by what people say, or by some fowk’s opinion,
Just be yahsel, an’ yee’ll dee well, safe in yuh’re ain dominion.
Life isn’t a rehearsal, wuh ainly get one chance,
So treasure evr’y moment when yuh get te sing an’ dance.
Yuh may not be Sinatra, or that classy Fred Astaire,
But wuh’ve all got wor ain song te sing, an’ moves te make oot there.
Nee point in that “if only”, nee time fer that regret,
Fer opportunities yuh’ve missed, it’s better te forget,
Those hard times that are history noo, thuh hah’d wuh back nee longer,
Though painful, wuh survived them, an’ wuh’ve come oot so much stronger.
The same gans fer the future, there’s nowt that wuh can dee,
Like Doris Day ah hev te say, that what will be will be…
So concentrate on here an’ noo, an’ savour ev’ry day,
Yuh’ve whorked fer yuh’re retirement, an’ noo it’s time te play.
Ah’ve nee plans te gan quietly, so while ah’m still aroond,
Ah’ll bind tight te me loved ones, an’ te friends whee ah hev foond,
Wor days on Earth are numbered, an’ nee matter the amount,
As yuh see the twilight gatherin’, yuh want evr’y one te count.
So yes, me hair has torned snah white, me health is not the best,
But evr’y mornin’ that ah’m spared, ah feel ah’ve passed the test,
An’ greet another day te live, if ah may be so bold,
Ah’m grateful just te be here, te disgracefully grow old…