Ah love ter live!

To-day, dear Lord, Ah'm 80 and ther's much Ah haven't done.
Ah hope, dear Lord, you'll let mi live until Ah'm 81.

But then, if Ah 'aven't finished all Ah want to do,
Would you please let me stay a while until Ah'm 82?

So many places Ah want ter go, so much Ah want ter see,
Do you think that you could manage ter mek it 83?

The world is changin' varry fast - ther's surely much in store -
Ah'd like varry much ter live until Ah'm 84.

An if by then Ah'm still alive...
Ah'd like ter stay til 85!

More planes will be up in't air bi then, so Ah'd really like ter stick
An see what 'appens ter the world when Ah turn 86.

Ah knaw, dear Lord, it's much ter ask (an' it must bi nice in 'eavan)
But I'd really like ter stay until Ah'm 87.

Ah know bi then Ah won't bi fast - an many a time will be late -
But it'd be so pleasant ter be arahnd at 88.

Ah'll 'av seen so many things bi then, an' 'ad a wonderful time,
So Ah'm sure that Ah'll bi willing ter leave at 89 ...maybe!

Just one more thing Ah'd like ter say, dear Lord, I thank yer kindly -
But if it's alreight with you, Ah'd love ter live past 90!

Ah'm verry well, thank you!

Ther's nothin the matter wi me,
Ah'm as healthy as can be!

Ah 'av arthritis in both mi knees,
An when Ah talk, Ah talk wi a wheeze.

Mi pulse is weak, mi blood is think,
But Ah'm awfully well fer't shape Ah'm in.

Arch supports Ah 'av fer mi feet,
Or Ah wouldn't be able ter be aht on't street.
Sleep is denied me neight after neight,
Bur ivvery mornin' Ah feind Ah'm alreight.

Mi memory is failing, mi 'eads in a spin,
But Ah'm awfully well fer't shape Ah'm in.

The moral o'this - as mi tale Ah unfold -
Fer you an me who are gettin' old -
It's better ter say: "Oh, Ah'm fine!" wi' a grin,
Than ter let folks know't shape we're in.

How do I know that mi youth is all spent?
Well, mi 'gerrup an go' has gorrup an' went!
But Ah really don't mind, when I think wi a grin,
Of all them grand places my 'gorrup' 'as bin.

Old age is golden - Ah'v 'eard it said.
But sometime Ah wonder as Ah ger inter bed,
Wi mi ears in a draw, an' a mi teeth in a cup,
Mi specs on't table until Ah gerrup...

E're sleep overtakes me Ah say ter myself,
Is there anything else Ah can lay on't shelf?

When Ah wer young, mi slippers wer red,
Ah could kick mi 'eels reight ovver mi 'ead.
When Ah gor'older mi slippers were blue...
But Ah could still dance the whole neight through.

Now Ah'm old an mi slippers are black,
Ah walk ter't shops and puff mi way back!
Ah gerrup each mornin' an' dust off mi wits
An pick up the papers an' read the 'obits'.

If mi name is still missin, Ah know Ah'm not dead.
So Ah 'av mi breakfast ...an go back ter bed!

Ah think Ah should post this

Just a line ter say that Ah'm livin.
That Ah'm not amongst the dead.
Though Ah'm gettin' more forgetful,
An mixed up in mi 'ead.

Ah'v got use ter mi arthritis,
Ter mi dentures Ah'm resigned.
Ah can manage mi bi-focals,
But, Oh God, Ah miss mi mind!

Sometimes Ah can't remember,
When Ah'm standin' by the stair,
If Ah should gu'up fer somethin'
Or if Ah'v come down from there.

An before't lader so often
Mi mind is full o' doubt,
Nah did Ah put some foid away
Or come ter ger it aht?

An sometimes when it's night time,
Wi mi hair net on mi 'ead,
Ah hardly know if Ah'm retirin'
Or just gerrin aht er bed!

If it's not my turn ter write, dear,
Ah 'ope yer won't get sore.
Ah think Ah may 'av written
An Ah don't want ter be a bore.

So remember, Ah do love you.
An Ah wish that you were near.
But nah it's time ter post this
An ter say goodbye, my dear.

At last, Ah stood beside't post box,
An mi face it sure got red...
When Ah should 'av posted this ter yer,
Ah opened it instead!