Neil Meili

Zen Cowboy Poet & Freelance Philosopher

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Tag Archives: Aging

Poems and stories about growing older,aging, deteriorating

Spring in Moose Jaw

Audio Recordings, Farm, Ranch Life / tagged Aging, Retirement / June 12, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

In the city
retired farmers still watch
the weather

In greening front yards
wooden ducks nailed to
white posts

Wings spinning
backwards

The Albums

Audio Recordings, Family, Nostalgia, Relationships, Remembering / tagged Aging, Connection, Pictures / June 6, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Mother's shrinkage was marked by domicile

House, apartment, retirement and nursing home
shedding at each move, furniture, china and art
except for, and never, the old photo albums
heavy in padded leather brown and green

Each visit when conversation stuttered to a stall
(Religion all but Baptist drowned and what use is weather without crops)
out would come the albums
and in we all would dive
for pennies bright and shiny
at the bottom of the pool

Here's one from 1958
How young the queen looked then

1 Reply

For Victor

Audio Recordings, Relationships / tagged Aging, Dogs, Learning, Love, pets, Wisdom / May 27, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

The only trick an old dog can learn
is how to be an old dog

The minimum of turns one has to take
before lying down for that nap

That a bark is as good as a chace
for keeping squirrels off the deck

And that after all these years
of standing up for your standing friends
you've likely earned their kneeling by you now

School Reunion

Audio Recordings, Relationships / tagged Aging, Athol Murray College of Notre Dame, Friendship, School, Sports / May 16, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

I went to school with supermen
all fearless and bulletproof
in hockey, football and life

They couldn't be hurt
and if there's any doubt
take two aspirin and run it out

Today their knees lock up
a golf club swing cracks a rib
one steps wrong - his leg's in a cast

They're getting more human by the day
and sometimes even at night

I blame it all on the hole in the ozone layer letting in more and more kryptonite

2 Replies

The Snakes Were Easy

Audio Recordings / tagged Aging, Humor, Perspective, Play / April 11, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

for Gary Larson

When God in his youth
made mud toys in play

He never thought of the day
as few of us do
when his beard would be gray

1 Reply

One for the Cat

Audio Recordings / tagged Aging, Cats, pets / March 31, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Buffy at fourteen
down to only two speeds
catnap and catnip

You Can Go Home Again

Audio Recordings, Family / tagged Afterlife, Aging, Connection, Death, Dying, Guidance, Transition, Welcome / March 12, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Death May Be Different

Audio Recordings, Farm, Ranch Life / tagged Acceptance, Aging, Death, Dying, Grace, Transition / March 11, 2026 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Death may be different
for folks from the city

For farm boys
maybe as simple as
getting on the old bay
hands loose on the reins
knowing it knows the way to the barn

Impossible Things

Audio Recordings / tagged Aging, Alice in Wonderland, Belief, Faith, Fantasy / October 11, 2025 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

The queen had believed, when young
as many as six before breakfast

The trick dear Alice
though you weren't told
is doing it when you're old

There's one now...

Aging Gratefully

Audio Recordings, Poems about Poetry / tagged Aging, Discovery, Hope, Pain, Science / September 26, 2025 / by neil_2015_wordpress@neilmeili.com

Knees of jelly and hip of steel
bones stronger where they broke
but not more flexible

And yet, and still
quantum physics and poetry
light that bends but does not end

The walking is a little tough
the flying is going well

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Sandi Hebley on What the Hell VillanelleJune 10, 2026
Had to go look up “villanelle.” 😏
Sandi Hebley on The AlbumsJune 6, 2026
💕 I love our old albums!
Sandi Hebley on JudyJune 1, 2026
😢 Hugs!
Kimberly Heinrich on The Other WellMay 31, 2026
Neil: THANK YOU for this!! Love it!! You are the best!!!💕💕
Sandi Hebley on Timmy’s Down the WellMay 29, 2026
🤗 Love this!

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