Laura Mckenzie Poet Free verse

Intrepidly Through Her Eyes

Though my eyes my have dark circles
And my hands have become hardened and blotchy from life
My worth is valued
I have seen the discarded past of war and men 
Progress accelerated through fields of gold 
But at heart I am not old 
I may sit by the window dressed in holiday attire 
And my legs have become thin as wire 
Amongst the fragrant lilies my family gave me to watch
I smell the dreaded aroma of mossback clothes 
Fermenting old pudding idle and stale left in the bowl 
But at heart I am not old  
I hear the cries of sadness weeping into the afternoon 
Have they cursed themselves for their inability to roam?
Helplessly strapped into a existence alone 
Time passes with the speed of molasses 
Lying beside the bed are the old mans glasses   
But at heart I am not old 
Human suffering lost floating in their room 
In need to rest for this weary soul entombed 
I can still remember parts of my younger days 
My husband and the children we raised
Though I struggle to stand tall
I won’t fall 
But at heart I am not old

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Belinda Parish March 1, 2009 at 12:31 PM Wonderful write my dear Laura. A strong interpretation of our elderly. I feel for them that end up in Nursing Homes and forgotten...

Denis Joe March 1, 2009 at 6:52 AM I love the universal theme of this and the Modernist approach both in the language and the alliteration, especially. there is none of the bravado one find scattered about in poems of Maya Angelou and those you copy her boring elitism. this has a feeling of speaking to humanity. The repitition of the line 'But at heart I am not old' is a device that can ruin a poem but you make it appropriate and it echoes the sentiment well. I find that the third line reads a little awkwardly though.

Mary Duhart March 1, 2009 at 3:48 AM I love how you come back..at my heart I am not old. We face many challenges and life storms but in the midst of it all we can stay young at heart. Great write and continue to share.

Carrie Richards February 28, 2009 at 7:01 AM My oh my Laura, you speak for so many. One dear friend (my mother's childhood friend) used to say those same words everytime I spoke to her long distance on the phone. "In my heart, I am not old"...yet her body betrayed her words...and eventually she left this world. I hope in Heaven, she is young in body as she was in her mind. ...This was written so beautifully, Laura. ~love, Carrie

Michael Jordan February 27, 2009 at 6:50 PM Laura - I often trip on the whole age thing - seems it all flew by so fast - I'm a grandfather now wow - Wonderful expression - God Bless, MJ

Robin L. Gass February 27, 2009 at 4:46 PM This is such a beatifully written piece, Laura. The imagery and emotons are woven together so perfectly in this very touching piece. Excellent work! Love, Robin

Sharon Winter February 27, 2009 at 4:36 PM Laura, this made me so sad. Are we lucky to grow so old when we become entombed in our own bodies? Old people do feel young in their heart, and I suppose it's a good thing, but it sad when the body cannot comply and feel the same way. I supposed it is different for every individual. It is not easy to grow old, or to watch a loved one grow old. An amazing write. Love, Shar