MUSCLE MOVEMENT

February 4, 1999

In years long gone
I could run a mile,
And from five minutes
Give back a while.

For years I’ve weighed
One-eighty-five,
And I still weigh that;
And still “look alive?”

But now that age
Has changed my paces,
Many good muscles
Have exchanged places.

Muscles that once made me strong,
Around my middle, have gotten long.
Once they made a good strong belly,
But now they let it shake like jelly.

Belts that once just filled the bill,
Now, when fastened, make me ill;
Once they fit exactly right,
But now they make me feel “up tight”.

My doctor said she wanted me,
Each day or two, to walk a mile,
But goodness sake, five plus three,
And then I have to have a while.

Me, Oh My! What must I do?
I must be honest; I must be true;
I walk most places that I go;
But that’s just walking to and fro.

So tighten that belt, and walk, Old Man,
Keep puffing on, until you can
Walk four miles every day,
And shorten that belt the proper way.