Written 11 April 2026 for 1462 Poetry Contest Sponsored by Brian Strand
aging a silent soothing balm can be a baleful burden to bear along a rocking cradle of calm yet, often facing the winds of storms a spirit so bold and tall with bodily frame frail and fragile a quiet and gentle grace but a bloom that silently fades greying hair usher wisdom in the garden of time where once youthful dreams thrived with echoes of those dreams still silently stirring our hearts yet, the shadow of lost youth stretches, soaring like autumn leaves soon to fall aground we derive showers of thrill to see our progeny tread their journey with flying colours yet grim solitude soon takes their place with their own loads of life they are called upon to bear. the joy of friends gathered with their laughter ringing clear raises the spirit high with sweet or harsh memories of battles fought together yet echoes of loss sometimes resonate pulling the soul down the hurried rush starts to cease with inner peace taking its place viewing the world with clearer eyes bathed in a gentler light yet each morning brings a subtle pain the heart breath growing slow a quiet toll that no one can shake with intake of pills growing tall we learn to carry burdens, light and deep find seams of solace in softer, smoother strings in a woven tapestry our life is retold in sacred solemn silence for coming years to behold on balance, with each new ache a story's written clear of pathways taken moments dearly cherished though youth may fade like beauty of the face the heart remains, forever young in grace aging being what we make of it.
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