was less in the folds
violins, please
you will find me in fields
of imaginary beauty
and this adagio
is reaching
it's crescendo
of colors
too vivid
for contrast
clear wrinkles of time
stories etched on feeble hands~
life's soft, silent chime
grey hair slowly fall
a journey hard, well- travelled~
canvas on the wall
distant laughter gleams
echoes of a vibrant past~
memoirs flow like streams
Sunlight dulls the eyes
wisdom surfs in the brain~
gazing at the sky
breath is slow and rough
strings of pains begin to sting~
the journey's end is tough.
and mangled deserts
everywhere
but now they shine
on everyone
stronger than mica
lining the southern
mountain roads
Too many clouds
"got in my way
before I looked" at colors
"that way"
Mine was blinding silver
in the Blue Ridge Mountains
in decrepit July,
unforgiving sweat
for magenta,
pink, and softer
juvenile
Joni Mitchell
motivated me to stay
I don't know her
or songs
"I really don't know love
at all"
I gave no strings attached.
Gave you enough rope to hang yourself.
The rest's up to you.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: 1st place 2026
As I celebrate another birthday…
and more wrinkles on my face I see..
I’m grateful how each wrinkle brings me a little closer
to the person I was meant to be.
Autumn (TSF)
Autumn`s
Beauty
In leaves,
Saffron
Tinted
Flying
In space
Air crisp
With winds
Earth scent
Rancid
With fruits
Fallen
Apace
Symbol
Of age
Grey hair
Wrinkles
Weak bones
Life`s speed
Low gear
Nature`s
Cycle
Sweet sour
Lesson
Of life
No ground
To fear.
She crawled into her Grandpa’s lap…it brought a smile to his face…
for he loved anytime they had the chance to share in the same space.
“Why do people grow old?” She asked.
“Will I ever be as old as you?”
Then she gently rubbed his face and asked,
“Will I have wrinkles too?”
Grandpa smiled. “Growing old is a gift.” He said.
“I wouldn’t be too concerned,
for every day you grow a little older is another chance
to live
to love
to learn.”
“The world is filled with miracles.” He continued. “from the biggest to the small.
and with so many miracles out there…it takes time to see them all.”
“Take that tree out back…the one you’re climbing all the time…
It took years of growing up to make it strong enough to climb."
“And that bark you love to feel…means it’s growing old gracefully…
for bark is nothing more than the wrinkles of the tree.”
“Don’t be afraid of wrinkles as you grow up…be glad you’ve acquired some…
for your wrinkles only go to show how wise you have become.”
“If you only learn one thing from me.” He said
“Let it be to grow old with fondness and affection..
and never think of it as growing old…
think of it…as aging to perfection.”
I'm not the youth I used to be
I think that's got its worthwhile perks
though the mirror sometimes disagrees
With wisdom came a couple wrinkles and
a few dear friends who stood the test of time
I'm not the youth I used to be
I don't think I'd have the stamina to start it all again
it's taken all my energy to do the best I can
AP: Honorable Mention 2025, Honorable Mention 2025
These wrinkles are precious
I have earned every one
Through fears I have faced
And battles lost and won
With laughter and smiles
I wear around my eyes
Through acceptance, denial
Not hearing the lies
With patience and kindness
Compassion and care
Letting go when I had to
And having to dare
Stepping up, Stepping back
Standing my ground
Quietly, dignified
Not making a sound
I have stood up and been counted
I have been back-seated
I have surrendered
But not been defeated
Because it takes bravery
To walk away from a fight
To understand that your “wrong”
Is someone else’s right
So life’s trials and tribulations
Show clearly on my face
As do the celebrations
All worn with pride and grace.
“With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come”
From The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare
I enjoy the mirth
I like the laughter
I can do without the old wrinkles!
Will soon turn ninety that's over the hill
But the Highland Fling I'm able to do still
As my kilt flips up
One can see I'm no pup
Got wrinkles on my wrinkles I'm heading downhill!
Wrinkles, wrinkles, wrinkles.
Lines stretching,
Deepening with age.
Etched stories of life.
Wrinkles bursting around the mouth.
Spraying sunbursts from eyes.
Settling in on brows that shift.
The portrait of success!
Anyone with less,
Is a boring mess.
No dance to life,
Without the wrinkles of strife.
No conversation can include,
What a person understood.
The height of experience,
The depth of failure.
Give me a friend,
With wrinkles all about.
Her life is something to brag about!
I have inked my verses
All day for so long
Poured my soul in pages
But got nothing in return
For being a full time poet
Poverty has ruined my life
Crippled my very spirit
Humiliation and neglect
follows me everywhere
My wrinkles and weary eyes
Speak of misery and destitution
So I have decided
To forsake my pen
Destroy all my works
Delete from memory
That once I was a bard
My verses will die with me
As I perform their last rites
Since writing has got me nowhere.
Will you still love me…when my lustrous black hair your fingers are ever drawn to,
turns thin and dull and gray?
When that youthful glow and my rosy cheeks wrinkle and my beauty fades?
Will you still love me…When you no longer recognize the sultry sway of my hips?
The sparkle in my eyes goes flat, along with the full pout of my lips?
Will you still love me…When the smile you love is lost, one by one…when all you see when I grin at thee, is my pink, and toothless gums?
Yes, but will you really still love me…When my lovely figure deflates like a balloon? When all my rounded curves dry up, as well as my once fertile womb?
Will you still love me…if my thoughts become lost in time? My once sharp wit grows dull, and disease invades my mind?
Will you still love me…When my youth is gone and time has taken its toll?
For I know I'll still love you,my dear…because I love your soul.
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