Old Beauty



Image result for free images of old personWe 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.


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