Growing Old

Seated Girl Facing Front

by Egon Schiele

(1911)

Growing old.

What does it mean?

I think not, the stray grey hair

Trailing amid the careless black.

Or the shortness of breath

After a flight of stairs winding up to you.

The change happens deeper within
Silently but decidedly.

Forgiveness, a closed fist,

Wounds heal not quickly.

Belief darkly tainted

Smiles held hostage by gloom.

Love once abundant in the heart

Trudges heavily and uncertainly

The road to imminent doom.

Memories

Portrait of Asian Woman with Flower

by Rhoda Weissman 

Memories

Like Russian dolls

Hide tenderly

One inside the other

Bright hued

And sometimes brittle.

I burrow through them all

To reach the littlest one.

The most distant now

Yet the most precious.

And to hold her in the cup of my palm

Is to fall in love all over again.