As part of my on-going series of rewritten famous poems in English, this takes W.B. Yeats ‘When you are old’ as it’s starting point. As before, the first line and structure remains consistent, the rest is down to me…
When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
When bed and rest seem sensible choices
And well-meant youth with their siren voices
Leave you heavy-lidded to count your sheep.
*
Don’t let welcome slumber pull you under;
Fight back the fog! Raise your head off that bed!
Your skin may sag, but when all is done and said,
Loose flesh still flaps and claps its own thunder.
*
Never go gentle; never be the first to leave.
If you must, take time; but please remember:
There’s still life in the coldest December
And all you need to live it to breathe.
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About TanGental
My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline.
I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy.
I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere.
These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
TanGental 
Good advice Geoff
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Stretch, stretch, oh ageing limbs!
Don’t give in to creaks or groans;
But, by Dog’s whinges and moans,
Take a walk, give into youthful whims.
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You’ve nailed it Chel!! That said, its more dog whimpers in the cold and wet…
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Haha! Love that last stanza.
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Good; I’ll keep churning them out!
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Uplifting, my friend
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hope in we old dogs yet!
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🙂
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Funny. As much of Yeats as I know, this one was new to me. Good parody nonetheless.
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I can see how this will be annoying, next week when I too will be old, but till then. . .
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