Aging beauty — instant poem
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)
I love this! Oh the stories that old fences could tell…. as can we!
And we do. Just try and stop us!
We haven’t come this far to be stopped now! No way!
Is it the fence, or you, or both, that is to be improved?
Mainly me!
I love everything about this….I am 68.
So glad to hear that it hits the spot for you, Sally.
So poignant and true Rachel. I love this. Some day we will be them. ❤️
That seems a hard thing to grasp or to believe, i find.
Yes, because we don’t often think about future
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!
Your last point: too true!
“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!
Muddling on, right?
I need four attempts to access the link. I persevered because I knew it would be good. I was not disappointed
That was strange and frustrating… until it worked. Maybe my photos are too large?
Great poem, great sentiment.
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!
Both halves of your own last line are so true.
perfect words. We may be growing older, but hopefully wiser.
On a good day I dare to think so.
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
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.