No flight overseas, no catching a plane,
No new adventure on unknown terrain.
No weekend in Venice my daughter and me
No pavement cafes and steaming hot tea.
No trip to the coast, footprints in the sand,
No spray on my face from waves blown inland.
No inhaling the smell of a salty sea breeze,
No Fish n’ chips in paper; warming my knees.
No strolling through fields and drinking the view
No squelching socks, wet from the dew.
No sharing with people perchance on the day
No enriching encounter, then back on my way
No cosy restaurant, friends and fine wine,
No high heels and elegance; dressed up to dine.
No night at the ballet and home on the train,
No celebratory drink, no glass of champagne.
No walking by torch light just my dogs and I,
No magical canopy; a star studded sky.
No driving my car; no freedom that brings,
No independence to do so many things.
No spontaneous decisions, a hallmark of mine,
No doing things different; not towing-the-line
No.... I never imagined such crippling limitations,
No fireworks at 50 and life celebrations.
allyb