The sole of my shoe

The sole of my shoe

Smacks into the pavement

Sometimes I’m floating

Above my expectations

Before the sting of the wind

Jolts me back again

Out of battery lately.

Not so you would notice,

My energy levels

Still allow for

A variation in speed.

I tack against the wind

Weave in and out

Of backsliders

But I know

My stamina is low.

I lack the snap

Of youth

Wasted as it was

On pipe dreams.

Yesterday.

My left eye clouded over,

Vision occluded.

It was a strange thing

Reminding me of mum’s

Loss of sight

At about my age.

I worried I would miss

The game,

Be unable to read

Or watch the television.

Mundane matters

I would struggle to do the crossword

Or drive

I would have to pour

The whisky down my fingers

Or my throat.

Thank goodness

It was not both eyes

I considered plucking it out

But settled for giving it

A vigorous rub.

This seemed to work

As it cleared,

Slowly at first

Until all was bright

All was good.

‘What the dickens.’

I thought.

‘How fragile we are.’

Even as I thundered across

The wooden bridge

I wondered

What I would do

If it happened again?

Perhaps I’ll just forget about it

For the time being

And when I get back

I’ll watch the football

Highlights

In high definition.