mornings start slow at our house;
after sleeping through the night
there are all the usual questions
reorienting her for another day

then preparing our breakfast and eating,
and assisting her in showering,
fixing her hair, makeup, and dressing,
I get ready straightening behind us

and now sitting in the blue velvet chair
her radiant smile and twinkling eyes
beaming up at me, this lovely visage of
my wife in our golden years together

together meeting every challenge,
overcoming every obstacle,reaping all
the beauty life has to offer;
accepting, healing, loving always united together

now in the autumn of life, approaching
our 50th. anniversary, falling upward
together, grateful for what we know
and the mystery that remains

Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
November 3, 2021

photos by author

Author’s note: Cathey and I celebrate
our 50 years of marriage this month
on November 14, 2021. Our golden
anniversary.