Thursday 30 August 2012

Old Age





What are you thinking when you're looking at me?
A crabby old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, with faraway eyes?
I'll tell you who I am as I sit here so still,
I'm a small child of ten ... with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters, who love one another.
A young girl of sixteen, with wings on her feet,
Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet.
A bride soon at twenty -- my heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows that I promised to keep.
At twenty-five now, I have young of my own,
Who need me to guide and secure a happy home.
A woman of thirty, my children now grown fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last.
At forty, my children have grown and are gone,
But my man's beside me to see I don't mourn.
At fifty once more, babies play round my knee,
Again we know children, my loved one and me.
For my children are all rearing young of their own,
And I think of the years and the love that I've known.
I'm an old woman now, and nature is cruel.
The body is crumbled, grace and vigor depart.
There is now a stone where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass, a young girl still dwells,
And now and again my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys, I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living life over again.
I think of the years, all too few,
Gone to fast, and accept the stark fact that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, open and see,
Not a crabby old woman you'll see;
Look closer ... and see ME!

26 comments:

  1. Awwww, this really touched my heart!

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    1. Pleased you liked it, I wanted to do a post but was to sick to think of anything so looked through my files and found this

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  2. aw what a really beautiful heartfelt post. you're amazing

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  3. Dearest Jo-Anne,
    Really moving post and made me look back the life I had♡♡♡ I can see the happy life with the family you have led.
    Haha, I didn't know the word "carcass"! Our mind is always the same despite the age (*^_^*)
    Lots of love and hugs from sis-city in Japan, xoxo Miyako*

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    1. Yes it made me think about my life when I read it and it really touched me which is why I saved it to use as a post.

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  4. How true! What a sweet poem. We all carry all of our years within us. :):)

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    1. Yes we do and I am so pleased others have enjoyed the poem

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  5. That is a wonderful poem and so very true. I relate to every word of it. I wonder sometimes if the "me" I am now even vaguely resembles my youthful "me".

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    1. I also have wondered at times how much this me is like the me of 30yrs ago.......

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  6. Oh This was absolutely beautiful!!!!!!
    Blessings, Joanne

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  7. what a great post! i was 56 yesterday and my mom was 82 on Monday.

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    1. Happy belated birthday to you and your mum hope you both had a great one, I love birthdays.....

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  8. I read something similar to this not long ago. I never tire of reading either. :)

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    1. Yes I found it somewhere and copied it and saved it for when I was to tired, sick or busy to think of a post........lol

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  9. Great poem and well put together, so pleased you shared it.

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  10. Love this post. It is so true and I never trie of reading about it or hearing what someone has to say. Bravo my friend.

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    1. I am happy you enjoyed this and yes I think it is also so true about most of us........

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  11. great post, made me think of bette midler singing hello in there!

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