The Colour Of Silence

The older I get, the nearer I slide
towards becoming the age
I remember my parents being
when I was unable to grasp
why they liked what they did,
beyond the circularity of habit
and the life they could afford
reinforcing repeats of itself upon them. 

I remain like my parents in the latter ways,
I live quietly within my means
I don't seek growth for it's own sake.
I was raised on second hand hope
and I know very well how to preserve it.

One point where I remain different
to how my family raised me
is in regard to television:
They watched it constantly
I can remember how to watch it,
but it no longer interests me. 

Nowadays the makers of programmes
imitate nature to attract their audience:
they put some green on the screen,
the grass of outdoors location filming
for either a history lecture, or some 'craft' 
competition where green means 'outdoors'
and 'play' for adults used to gathering
in open spaces, or cue themselves up
for more of the green baize of the snooker table.

I prefer the colour of silence.

The Seen And The Unseen

In these days when face masks
are used to cover nose and mouth
in enclosed spaces, and in public,
then reading people's faces
can seem rather difficult.

Smiling seems illogical
when you know nobody can see it.

But if you smile behind your mask
where nobody can see it,
then you are more likely
to smile with your eyes
which people will recognise
to which they will respond to quite readily.  

Signs Of Greater Age (4)

1-having nobody to send
anyone, or receive post from,
after having had plenty to say
to so many correspondents
through your life so far.....

2-being surprised by how
some everyday items cost more
than your memory says they should. 

3-being surprised by
how helpful and genuine
strangers can be when you
have a minor public crisis.