Senior Strength Training
[audio link]
At the health club, we march, punch,
lift our legs and lunge. A bunch
of 55s and over, warming up
while Little Anthony sings
“Goin’ Out of My Head.”
To “Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen,”
we modify push-ups and jumping
jacks, forget to count reps,
try not to strain what’s well past sixteen
or tear what’s been surgically repaired.
We sit on stability balls, curl our biceps,
pull on bands to tone trunks, rotate metal
hips to The Drifters’ “This Magic Moment.”
Twelve golden oldies, pushing against mortality
while The Everly Brothers advise us
all we have to do is dream.
—Jan Hasselman Bosman, Woodstock, IL
