Declaration of Interdependence
for the Senior Citizen’s Law Office:
Consider this a thank you note,
years in the making,
just like you.
Unfolded
from every pouch,
purse and pocket,
careful
to preserve every single wrinkle.
They say we can never actually repay our elders,
but that should never stop us from trying,
especially while you are currently more than capable
of cashing in on our care…
So consider this a love letter,
with a word count that is irrelevant,
because like birthdays
we lost count a long time ago.
Because every dawn
is a celebration of gratitude
and you are the guest of honor.
We are ombudsman
circled at the foot of your flower
carrying nothing but compassion
and candles to see you through the dusk.
We are your village
for every child you helped raise
that wasn’t yours.
The bridge of your shoulders
we’ve walked across so long
that your time
has become our time and our turn,
while the finish line is nigh
to hoist you up
above our heads
and crowd surf you to the finish line.
This is an oath,
to the mapmakers…
your one person expedition into the great unknown
the 91st, second and third year
we’ll only ever get to see if we are as fortunate
or as impervious as you.
This is a salute
to every single living treasure
whose ever-ticking ticker marks the spot.
We pledge to
be your champion for liberties
you liberated some fifty-odd years ago.
To preserve the gold in “years”
by protecting the gold in your pocket.
To never leave you house-less
until you are ready and willing
to deed the farm.
To advocate
for our original advocates.
For every single fever you ever broke,
every oatmeal bath you’ve ever drawn.
We are extremely honored
to be the coming home remedy
you are depending upon.
We enthusiastically accept this charge
To make sixty
the new sexy…
And for you we swear
to make love
our only four letter verb.
To put the power of attorney
into hands of the elderly who’ve earned it,
to ensure that your end of life wishes
are brought into existence.
And your parting gifts are given
in the manner you intended.
From consumer protections
to same sex couples’ benefits
because “alone”
shouldn’t be the punishment for outliving
those who have your best interests
in mind.
We vow
in sickness and in health to provide…
To provide more than company,
to provide community,
to cultivate a culture
of caregivers
and caretakers.
To respect
those that taught us what that word means
by investing in their piece
of mind
one act of peace
and dignity
at a time.
To never leave you behind
because we share this future,
this now
in all its present tense,
this today,
the future you’ve been been behind the wheel of
from memory to moment
even after your driving privileges were taken away.
To remind ourselves
that we may be your legacy,
but our living legacy is how we treat you.
And in 20 or so years…
the generation after you
will consider this de ja vu…
but until then…
consider this “Hello”
the intervention to your “Goodbye”
This “good morning”
a most welcome disruption to
your record breaking streak of “good nights”
Consider this a “never to late” to call us, calling card
just in the nick of time.
Consider this “all the things we wanted to say”
to all the people we want to stay.
Consider this a declaration of interdependence
because we have the inalienable right
to age gracefully…together.
Consider this a promise
from the Senior Citizen’s Law Office
that you’ll never grow old
on your own.
© Hakim Bellamy November 29th, 2016
