Skull A Hard Bony Box Poem by Charles Tiffin Clegg

Hard Bony Box

The hard and bony box is old
epiphyses all closed
data entry gets confused
by vision somewhat blurred
unfocused without glasses
that I would like wear if
you have seen them
I might have lost them here
floaters pass across the field
they don't bother me
I blame them for everything
distraction and my vision
that now is quite unclear
I think they cause that static
surely you can hear
but no, thats my ears, not eyes
both with arteries all blocked
but still a horn is clear

' What's that you said? '
a phrase that comes a lot these days
to even hear whats even said
hearing is like dizzyness
both come from ancient ears
that reach inside my head

But geezers know a lot of stuff
It hides between their ears
Crystallized intelligence is strong
The fluid kind dried up and gone
Cagey understanding helps a lot
but I can't remember how
I cover all that up
I make up lots of stuff
I nod as if I'm following and know
I wait with clever posturing
for words I actually both know and hear

I watch the faces of the others
whenever I can see
I get more clues
from voice tones
I might hear them sometimes
and know whats going on

I'll tell a joke, thats easy
When they come to mind
I'll laugh and hug
and make them think
I'm loving, warm, so wise
All this is what I do today
It works, I'll tell you why
If only I could recall my poem
and the memories just lost
Oh heck, I'll just go to bed