Aging beauty — instant poem

Old fence held together by string. Blue sky and treetops.
Old fence held together by string
Let us now praise older things. 
Not new things
or young things
or sweet little things.
(Those we praise
on other days.)

Sing about things
that are mossy and messy
not pristine or peachy.
Things that cling
with hope
and bits of string.

Praise the craze
of hieroglyphics
sharing an old
neglected space
with a phrase
and memories.

Let us now praise
older people
holding and leaning
and hoping and lending
and struggling
with pieces of string.

Let us remember
that they are us
and we are them
or will be.

-- rachel mcalpine 2022 (to be improved)

Old wooden fence with remnants and markings from old ivy, and red graffiti.
An old wooden fence with markings from ivy and a graffiti artist.
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23 thoughts on “Aging beauty — instant poem

  1. josaiawrites says:

    I love this! Oh the stories that old fences could tell…. as can we!

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      And we do. Just try and stop us!

      1. josaiawrites says:

        We haven’t come this far to be stopped now! No way!

  2. Is it the fence, or you, or both, that is to be improved?

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Mainly me!

  3. I love everything about this….I am 68.

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      So glad to hear that it hits the spot for you, Sally.

  4. Sadje says:

    So poignant and true Rachel. I love this. Some day we will be them. ❤️

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      That seems a hard thing to grasp or to believe, i find.

      1. Sadje says:

        Yes, because we don’t often think about future

  5. I love the photos as well as the poem – the artistic eye picking out details and contrasts which inspire your writing. The creative plumbing in the second photo could be a metaphor!

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Your last point: too true!

  6. “Sing about things
    that are mossy and messy
    not pristine or peachy.
    Things that cling
    with hope
    and bits of string.”
    My fav verse – excellent! I like being ‘mossy & messy’ and clinging with hope and bits of string!

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Muddling on, right?

  7. I need four attempts to access the link. I persevered because I knew it would be good. I was not disappointed

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      That was strange and frustrating… until it worked. Maybe my photos are too large?

  8. Mick Canning says:

    Great poem, great sentiment.

  9. Ally Bean says:

    Beautiful thoughts, I especially like your last line: “Let us remember that they are us and we are them
    or will be.” One can live healthy and hope!

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Both halves of your own last line are so true.

  10. perfect words. We may be growing older, but hopefully wiser.

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      On a good day I dare to think so.

  11. judithhb says:

    Amongst the books I got for Christmas is one called Older But Better. One of the witty comments that abound in this book is – We should be allowed to grow old time: the first time we’re taken by surprise; the second, we would have the time to cherish time. I love your poem, thanks

  12. Elizabeth says:

    New England is a good place to age since aged things are valued here. Lots of us women with no makeup, lots of lines, squishy bodies and great senses of humor.

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