The Struggle To Keep Going In Old Age Poem by Shalom Freedman

The struggle to keep going in old age
To not let the aches stop one from moving
To not let the sense of uselessness
Conquer one's mind and heart
To not lose oneself in all the losses of capacity
To not let despair be complete over the losses of friends
To not let the changed world one is less a part of- dishearten
To somehow sustain one's human connections wherever possible
To still help others as best one can
To love and put hope in the young of one's family
To smile and sing against the inner emptiness and silence
To go on with courage not complaining to others
To pretend and understand one is pretending one is feeling better than one is
To go on with courage
To pray to God with all one's heart and soul and might