MR. AND MRS. DODDER

NOW DAYS WE DODDER TO THE DOOR
WE USED TO STRIDE WITH EASE
WE JUST AIN’T GOT IT ANYMORE
WE JUST HAVE MEMORIES

THEN WE DODDER TO THE CAR
THEY LET US HAVE A SPACE
SO THAT IT WON’T BE TO FAR
IN A HANDICAP–ED PLACE

WE USED TO PARK THE CAR AND WALK
DON’T IT ANY MORE
FROM THE FAR SIDE OF THE BLOCK
RIGHT UP TO THE DOOR

AND WE MAY DODDER TO THE BUS
WHEN WE NO LONGER DRIVE
WE HOPE THAT IT WILL WORK FOR US
AND THAT WE WILL ARRIVE

WE NOW DODDER TO THE HOUSE
AFTER BEING GONE
AS I LEAN UPON MY SPOUSE
SHE IS HANGING ON

AND WE DODDER DOWN THE STAIR
ONE STEP AT A TIME
HAPPY THAT THE RAIL IS THERE
FOR WE ARE NOT OUR PRIME

YES WE’RE ANXIOUS TO AVAIL
(DON’T WANT TO BREAK A HIP)
THAT COMFORT GIVING – OLD HANDRAIL
IN CASE THAT WE SHOULD SLIP

THESE DAYS WE DO MUCH DODDERING
THAT’S HOW WE GO, YOU KNOW
IF WE CANT GET THERE BY DODDERING
WE’RE NOT A GOIN’ TO GO

AND THOUGH WE MAY ACT STRONG AND STABLE
DIFFI-CULT IT HAS BECOME
SOMETIMES WE ARE BARELY ABLE
TO KEEP – OUR EQUILIBRIUM

TIME WAS WHEN WE WERE AGILE
WE USED TO STAND UP TALL
THE PASSING YEARS HAVE MADE US FRAGILE
TODAY WE FEAR A FALL

SOMETIMES AS WE DODDER OUT
THE PAST COMES INTO VIEW
AND WE STOP AND THINK ABOUT
THE THINGS WE USED TO DO

WE USED TO WATER SKI AND SWIM
BUT NOW WE’RE AGED AND MELLOW
WE EXERCISED TO KEEP US TRIM
NOW WE’RE MORE LIKE JELLO

I USED TO WALK UPON MY HANDS
AND THAT WAS KIND OF NEAT
NOW WITH ARMS LIKE RUBBER BANDS
I BARELY WALK UPON MY FEET

I USED TO STAND UPON ONE FOOT
TO TIE MY OTHER SHOE
TO DO THIS NOW I’D BE HARD PUT
IT’S NOT AMONG THE THINGS I DO

I DID PULL UPS WITH ONE ARM
AND ONE ARM PUSH UPS TOO
TO TRY IT NOW WOULD DO NO HARM
BUT IT WOULD BE A BIG SNAFU

MY POOR WIFE AT RISK MAY BE
BELIEVES I AM FIRM AND STABLE
SHE THINKS THAT SHE CAN LEAN ON ME
I THINK I’M BARELY ABLE

OUR CONFIDENCE IS ALMOST GONE
SO TO PREVENT A FALL
NOW WE PUT OUR PANTS ON
LEANING ON A WALL

WE NOW MOVE VERY CAREFULLY
HOPING TO SURVIVE
IF WE DO THIS SUCCESSFULLY
WE MAY JUST STAY ALIVE

FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AT LEAST
BUT WHAT CAN WE EXPECT
EITHER FAMINE OR A FEAST?
OR WHATEVER ELSE COMES NEXT?

I’VE ALMOST LOST MY OF SMELL
(I DON’T SMELL GOOD ANYMORE)
IF THAT WAS ALL, THEN WHAT THE HELL
BUT THERE IS PLENTY MORE

OUR HEARING AND OUR EYESIGHT,
NOW CONSIDERABLY DIMINISHED
CREATE A SETTING WHERE WE MIGHT
CONCLUDE WE’RE ALMOST FINISHED

WE GIVE THIS MUCH ATTENTION
FOR THOUGHT WE’VE HAD MUCH FODDER
THOUGH IT WAS NOT OUR INTENTION
WE ARE MR. AND MRS. DODDER

AND AS WE AGE
WE’LL NOT FORGET
THE DODDER STAGE
AFFECTS OUR PETS

FOR WE’VE BEEN TOLD
AND KNOW IT’S TRUE
THAT DOGS GROW OLD
AND DODDER TOO

THEY USED TO CHASE THE RABBITS
THEY LOVED TO RUN AND JUMP
THEY NOW HAVE DIFFERENT HABITS
THEY SIT UPON THEIR RUMPS

THEY USED TO MOVE WITH EASE AND GRACE
NOW WITH THE PASSING YEARS
THEY STAGGER ALL AROUND THE PLACE
ESPECIALLY AT THEIR REARS