Changing
by Hy Kempler
I live a different rhythm now
The morning alarm doesn’t signal a
Rising reflex, just the arrival of day
I play on machines that yank
Muscles and tendons, hoping
They’ll stay strong longer
The mind and the soul, like invisible instruments,
Get tuned—read, write, and ponder
The ultimate
There are recurrent shopping trips
Where I hunt for bargains and fiddle
With plastic bags
I’m a laundry man, an expert
On detergents, lint balls and dryer
Hoses
Still dreams of old collegial contact
Fill the night with yesterdays
But
I live a different rhythm, now
Hy Kempler, PhD, was a clinical psychologist and on the adjunct faculty of several universities. Since joining HILR in 2000, he led study groups on aging and the mind/body connection. Active in Jewish organizations, he loves golf and biking.