Old Beauty

We cherish heirlooms, period art,

antique furniture, classic literature,

but often fail to find the beauty

in old people. They are usually

brushed aside, ignored, discarded. 
                                     

All we see is faded glory, faces

crinkled with lines of past joys

and sorrows, successes and failures.

Eyes a bit sunken and dimmed,

straining to see who comes by,

Hands now gnarled and veined

but graced with aged loveliness.

Age brings a new beauty that takes

time to appreciate, requires patience

to draw out the stories of years

spent raising children, cooking meals

acquiring knowledge, playing games, 

praying rosaries,  going fishing, and

becoming a beloved elder.

Older people may be frail and slow,

sometimes hesitant in speech,

but they are unique individuals

well-seasoned with the salt and

spices of life’s experiences.