Pressing Business

My shirts tend to be a bit wrinkled these days.

   I don’t even own an iron anymore.

       Perma-press, though not permanent or pressed

            Will have to do for me, I have no ironing board.

I guess I ought to get one just in case,

   I ever have to go someplace formal,

       Or even semi-formal with a tie and all

            Though I haven’t donned a tie in ages.

Things are changing for us baby boomers,

    Even simple things finally settle into a rut.

        With other comfortable things we’ve tossed in there

              Over the years, collecting the best things in life.

Trouble is that once we’ve become set in our ways

     And predictable in our moods and appetites,

           No one is interested in asking us anymore,

                What we care about or whether we’d like to try something new.

So we get along fine without irons and ironing boards          

     Our music collections grow more slowly and selectively.

           And we eat the same things for supper and brush our teeth

                 With the same danged toothpaste we always use.

And furthermore we don’t even care if adult children don’t like it.

     And think we’re no longer even relevant.

           And isn’t it nice to be content to be just who we are,

                  And finally free of caring about the judgment of others.


© 2018 by Tom King