After Ninety

by Rohan Buettel

Nothing good happens after ninety years.
Skin tissue as thin as poppy petals;
Organs decay; vision never clears.
Brittle bones replaced by stronger metals.
The drainage systems need constant repairs
As thinking channels are clogged with grief.
A cloudy view occludes tomorrow’s cares,
The events of long ago in sharp relief.
Yet would I stay a while for nonetheless
Although the dark curtains now descend,
I still enjoy the things I once did best.
The simple joys we took we still intend
To take again, not end before they stop.
From oranges we squeeze the final drop.

Rohan Buettel lives in Canberra, Australia. His haiku appear in various Australian and international journals (including Presence, Cattails and The Heron’s Nest). His longer poetry appears in numerous journals, including The Goodlife Review, Rappahannock Review, Penumbra Literary and Art Journal, Passengers Journal, Reed Magazine, Meniscus and Quadrant.

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“…As thinking channels are clogged with grief.
A cloudy view occludes tomorrow’s cares,
The events of long ago in sharp relief…”