We who with songs beguile your pilgrimage / And swear that Beauty lives though lilies die, / We Poets of the proud old lineage / Who sing to find your hearts, we know not why ... (James Elroy Flecker)

5.11.19

Turning 80


Turning 80

For Karin

In a week it will be my birthday.
People already tell me: ‘looking good’ 
– for my age. I’ll be turning 80.

I don’t wish to be younger. I want 
to be 'young on the inside', as my friend 
who reached 80 a week ago says.

She is vibrant. Who sees wrinkles
behind her laughter, or weight of years
in her quick, jaunty steps and gestures?

I want to stay ever new, all 
my experiences kept, freshly alive.
I tell her, ’We are becoming ageless.’

Karin on her 80th:












Linked to Poetry Tuesday at THOTPURGE, 
where the word for Nov 5th is Old.

23 comments:

  1. Oh to become ageless like that is such a privilege, a gift! I hope for enough grace and joy to navigate the years ahead! Thanks so much for sharing at Poetry Tuesday, Rosemary!

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  2. Yes, I love that. We are becoming ageless. I love that our spirits remain young though our bodies age. This would fit for Rajani's prompt "old" - since we refute that title..........LOL.

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  3. Great attitude to aging. Happy Birthday for next week.. 80 is a milestone.Have fun with your young 80 year old sweet friend.Spoil yourself rotten on the day.

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  4. Me too! How well you build this narrative poem! With friends and a particular friend before coming to you. Ageless inside. I'd be so happy with that.

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  5. This is incredibly heart-stirring, Rosemary! ❤️ I resonate with "being young on the inside," .. here's to you! Many many happy returns of the day in advance! Cheers! 😍😍

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  6. You and me both, my beloved Rosemary! There is power in years. Yes, our bones start to hurt, but oh! how our brains and hearts delight in what we've learned. I can't never think "old" when I think of you. I think wild crone, knowing sister, an example to those of us who will always stay "young on the inside".

    I know your birthday is still a few days away, but... Happy (early) Birthday anyway! You'll probably get a few more happies.

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  7. Some people reach 80 and all they have to show for it is their age.

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  8. What a joyous poem - and happy birthday in advance

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  9. I hope I'm vibrant when (if) I get to eighty. I too would be happy to be 'young on the inside', and ' stay ever new, all my experiences kept, freshly alive'. As Magaly said, there is power in years and don't think of you as 'old' either. Happy birthday, Rosemary!

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  10. I walk behind you with some years, and there are days when I feel my age. To me there is only one thing that would make me feel old, and that is the day were my passion to learn new things have ceased... and with writing there are always new things to try.

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  11. You are so young, I wish I was 80 again! However I think writing helps us keep young.

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  12. Happy upcoming birthday! I've never understood people who wish to be younger. I've no desire to turn back the clock---and neither do you!

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  13. That last stanza...it just brought to mind fizzy afternoons enjoying good company.

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  14. Yes to all of this! LOL, I intend to stay young on the inside until I take my last breath.

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  15. Happy Birthday! My friend would never tell anyone how old she was and then when she turned 80 she bragged about it to anyone who would listen!

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  16. I think you're right, Rosemary. We become ageless as we barrel toward timeless. Ever expanding. Ever fresh. Ever new. Ever young in essence. Wonderful poem!

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  17. I am right there with you! Young on the inside! What a wonderful way to live--

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  18. Happy happy ageless! I still think of myself as that restless 20 something who crashed the walls and burnt them down. I like ageless. Ageless works. Dear Rosemary, blessed ageless to you.

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  19. I hope you have a happy birthday, Rosemary. :)

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  20. Many many thanks to all for the fellow-feeling and good wishes!

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  21. Rosemary. Bless you and HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELATED!!! You have now been enrolled into the OBE Club. As my deceased Aussie friend, Merle had named the Over Bloodie Eighty Club. She and I both raced towards that goal a few years ago but she didn't make it. My Birthaday is October 30, this year I was 86. It is a fine feeling when our health permits. I don't tell a lot of folk. Like you, when they know a very large percentage will say, "You certainly don't look that old (or the number they just told).
    So again. I wish you a Happy first year of OBE. :)
    ..

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  22. Love it!

    'I want to stay ever new, all
    my experiences kept, freshly alive.'

    What a splendid philosophy to live by …
    as clearly …
    you do, Rosemary.

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