So why this name? It makes no sense
that “men” are in this clause,
or maybe women at that time
make men go “o” and pause…With sleepless tossing, turning yawns,
I’m feeling wide awake,
yet drop-dead tired at the same time;
it’s not a happy state.I wonder if I’ll ever think
of what I had to do?
I try hard to remember but
my thoughts keep slipping throughthat holey net that is my mind,
the wires I know are frayed
and faulty, and connection’s poor:
in total disarray.And suddenly, a furnace lights
a flush that heats me through;
I’m burning up, as if on fire
or ill in bed with flu.I’m nervy where I once stood strong.
My confidence has fled
as if all that I once possessed
has muddled in my head.I keep forgetting words, you know,
that thing, that one, that errrr;
my former mind has clouded to
a hormone-fested blur.The milk in with the cereals?
My son points in despair.
I’ve lost my keys the seventh time,
put foot-cream in my hair.It doesn’t stop its harsh assault
but battles on and on;
my waist has disappeared, it’s thick,
my taut skin’s also’s gone.And at the slightest, tiny thing,
the flood gates open wide
and tears cascade across my cheeks
in a tsunami tide.Some opt to swallow HRT
to simmer down the fire,
to level out the bumpy path
and help them through this mire.And just to add insults on top,
this isn’t a fast ride:
the men’o’pause can last for years –
there is nowhere to hide.Now, why the name? “The time of life?”
The truth is far from that.
“Time of your life?” I don’t think so:
hot, muddled, tired and fat.Think men are lucky not to have
the men-o-pause? Like hell!
The poor guys have to live with us…
and drive fast cars as well…and hit on women half their age
and dye their hair from grey
and splash out on ripped jeans and wear
a baseball cap each dayand “groove” to music that they thought
was “noise” and not much else,
but feel they have to grab their chance
while still in quite good healthbefore they draw their pensions and
the bald is hard to hide
before their paunch can’t be constrained
with belts, however wide.Before their cover’s blown and they
must give in to their age
and sit and read the papers with
Sudoku – all the rage!So men-o-pause; a curse for all –
know what you’ve got to do?
Drive off in his sports car to raves
Cause that will get you through…
© Nicky Clifford 2016
That’s brilliant! I’m sharing every minute of my wife’s menopause and it’s brought us closer together. Sleepless nights? So we have tea and crumpets in bed at 3 a.m!
Glad you like it. Tea and crumpets sounds like a plan! I will suggest it to my husband 🙂