A Cautionary Tale

Have a care, old woman
you cannot conceivably continue
to persevere and enjoy your
privileged life of old age
at the rate you are consuming
those years. Another fall
added to those that have
managed to disrupt your
daily activities making of
your face a landscape of
contusions and colourful
purple, black and grey
highlights come with a cost
you will not be prepared to bear.
Accidents they may be but in
many respects to be avoided
with a trifle more avoidance
the kind of attention that
should be yours after a life
well lived, one that has also
proven to be accident-prone
in a woman of enduring energy
and impetuous action who
should by now have acquired
a sensible appreciation of
the assurances caution brings.