‘Grandma, why are you old?’

‘My dear boy, I’m not old!’

But it’s true

I was here before you

And I’ve seen so much

Unfold

 

I was here first

And I’ve been around

For some time

That’s how you

Are here

To hear my rhymes

 

I am the rehearsal

The years have taught me

My lines

Having played every role

I’ve been daughter and mother

Friend, foe and a lover

 

I’ve studied

I’ve won

I have lost

And I have paid the cost

Of loving the wrong one

 

I have seen my friends

Die

There have been many lows

And a number of highs

 

In every line that you see

You can trace the tears

That I’ve cried throughout

The years

 

Look closely, my love

You’ll see the smiles

I have smiled

The pain I’ve endured

And the miles I have walked

 

I was once just like you

All sweetness and light

I thought life was all sweeties

Laughter and pillow fights

Until I walked the walk

 

I wish you could stay

Just as you are

I wish I could keep you

Under this star

 

But I know that I can’t

One day you will be old

You’ll look back on this day

And yearn for the stories

I told

 

My age and my wisdom

They are your shield

Heed my words wisely

They come from the healed

I am your guide

Sadly, I know

You probably think

What does she know!

 

If you search my face

Closely

You’ll probably find

Another new line

It’s the one I call

My grandma space

It was earned over time!

 

You see son, you are right

I am getting old

And every line that you see

Is love that shows up

On my face

It’s the worry I show

When you are out of sight

 

I love you

Dear child

More than you can know

That’s why I have walked

Every road you will walk

 

I tried to clear every path

I’ve cast my votes

I’ve talked the talk

But the brambles are thick

And the enemy is cloaked

 

I had to grow old

Just so you could be

Free

I needed to teach you

And you needed me

To hand on the baton

So you could take

The lead

And let the story unfold

 

So next time you trace

The lines in my face

Remember each one

Tells a story … a punctuation

A space

 

This one’s from grief

This one’s from joy

This one’s from worry

Each one tells a story

Of a full life

Lived in glory.

 

C.K.22