THE OLD LADY AT THE DOOR

There's an old lady knocking at my door,

and she wants to come in.

She wants to move in and take up residence

in my home, my head, my body.

She wants to sit in my armchair

and watch daytime TV and only go out

for Bingo, and other safe pursuits.

She wants to go through my wardrobe

and throw out all my clothes,

replacing them with elasticated slacks

and slip on shoes.

She wants to feed me pills for this

and fear for that,

to stop moving in case I hurt myself,

to atrophy here in the corner.

To be invisible and silent,

to behave and slow down and be old.

She knocks loudly, rat-a-tat,

and shouts through the letterbox, let me in.

I block my ears and pull on my hiking boots

to go up a mountain where she can't follow,

to keep my knees young and my mind clear,

to live life while I can.

And I on my way past her I whisper,

not yet, old woman, not yet.

©Roisin Duffy

TITLE: THE OLD LADY

AT THE DOOR

PRICE: €850

SIZE: 31" X 31"

ACRYLIC ON CANVAS,

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