Plans for a Happy Old Age
 
I’ll bake bread with pear-drops and marshmallows in it,
leaving the kitchen in a mess  
whilst I eat it all.
 
I’ll concoct a perfect glass of Piña colada
pull up an old striped deck-chair,  
and fall asleep in front of the fire.
 
I’ll climb all the trees that line my street - if my bones will hold up,  
in the dusk, when the sky is pink and delicious
like warm trifle.
 
When people ask ‘how are you?’ not
really caring about my answer,  
I’ll shout at them, ‘I’m quite mad, thank you for asking.’
 
I’ll skip down the lane towards the beach
dodging cracks in pavements, if I feel inclined.  
Then when I reach the end
 
I’ll stay still for awhile and watch the moon  
slide gracefully behind clouds, then I’ll reach up  
and disappear with it, into the darkness.

Andrea Bowd
 
If you have any thoughts on this poem,  Andrea Bowd  would be pleased to hear them.