Stay Up!

By George Held

 

I tell myself

whenever I take a walk:

 

Don’t stumble and fall

again, the way you did

 

some months ago,

landing on your hip

 

but with no break,

only bruises.

 

You can’t count on

your luck forever:

 

Break your hip or pelvis

and you’ll be in grave

 

shape, so stay up!

Stay up! … it’s imperative

 

if you want to

stay alive.

 

 

From the cast of The Most Happy Fella, 1956