Growing Old

I'M STILL HERE My looks are nothing special, My face reveals my age, My body shows some wear and tear, And my energy's not the same. Too often my memory fails me, And I lose things all the time. One minute I know what I plan to do, And the next it may just slip my mind. I try hard to avoid my mirror. There are things I would rather not see, And even those times when I just catch a glimpse, I no longer can recognize me. The things I used to do with ease Can now cause aches and pains, And the quality of the things I do Will never quite be the same. I always compare my older self To those younger versions of me, And I know I'm wasting too much time Missing who I used to be. But the thing that really makes me sad Is despite what people see, Underneath my tattered, worn out shell, I'm still the same old me. My heart can still feel endless love, And at times it still can ache. My heart can fill with so much joy, And then it can suddenly break. My soul can still feel sympathy And longs for forgiveness and peace, And there are times its light shines boldly through, And times when it longs for release. It's true, maybe now that I'm older, Feeling lonely may be status quo, But it also has made me more willing To forgive and let past conflicts go. So maybe to some I look ugly and old, A person who barely exists. I'm still quite aware of the beauty inside, And my value should not be dismissed. So although not as strong and no beauty it's true, I'm still here and want so much to live, And I know that there's no one in this world quite like me, And no one who has more to give.