Picture credit: Margaret Bednar
To mark the date new
To see the common becoming uncommon
In the flight of wings,
In the cusp of new moon
There will come a time when winter
stiffens my bones
grows my hair all white
and tattoos my face in thin paper lines
but until then I shall
move the mountains with my pen
pave my own road with sweat
& thirst & thirst for the sky
For upon my skin, sun is warm & inviting
From where I stand
grass is darker green
blooms are dazzling yellow
because inside me
ever blossoming, a second wind in my lungs
a woman aging with fire-spirit
taking the first step
And that
is alright with me.
“Wrinkles and bones, white hair and diamonds: I can't wait.”
― Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany's: And Three Stories
Posted for Imaginary Garden for Real Toads - Play it Again - The Story
and shared with Poets United - Wishing you all Happy Weekend ~
On a personal note, I have applied and accepted a job assignment in the heart of Toronto City, come April 7. It will mean a new journey for me though I am still working for the same company. I am stroked by the turn of events and I hope to master the ropes very quickly.
Love 'a woman aging with fire spirit.' Beautifully expressed, Grace. One has to learn to survive the winter and the winter of life. As long as one can move mountains with a pen, life is good.
ReplyDeleteTrue on winter and winter of life ~ Thanks Mary ~
DeleteThe 'until then' worries me a bit - too final. Just carry on I say,any old how, wrinkles and white hair should not impede anything. maybe I misunderstood.
ReplyDeleteI meant that aging is inevitable and someday we will all grow old ~ But finding the spring within us, is a wonderful way to embrace ourselves ~ Thanks for the visit ~
Deletesplendid poem...and congrats on the new job opportunity
ReplyDeleteThank you ~
Deleteyou will still keep us 'posted'? i can feel the young fire within and those young strong legs wanting to take a new path in the same journey. buena suerte!
ReplyDeleteThank you ~ I plan to take a picture of my "new" building, which is also one of the city's landmark buildings ~
Deletei like the powerful rebirth toward the end...and that you take ownership of your getting there...not waiting for someone to do it for you but paving your own road....i am excited for your new opportunity grace..well deserved step up....
ReplyDeleteIts been long in coming so I can now breathe a sigh of relief ~ Thanks Brian ~
DeleteCongratulations on the new job. I love how a woman with 'fire-spirit' encapsulates this poem.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kathryn ~
DeleteHow I love 'ever blossoming a second wind in my lungs' and that fire spirit....
ReplyDeleteThank you Sumana ~
Deleteah congrats on the new job and a powerful write as well... love the paving the own path and do whatever we can with the time we got
ReplyDeleteThanks Claudia ~
Deletesurvive and thrive...good luck Grace ..new challenges keep the spirit young and alive...
ReplyDeleteYes, it does ~ Thanks Robert ~
Deletei love the feeling behind this one..
ReplyDelete"but until then I shall
move the mountains with my pen" - this line is really strong, love it
Thank you Natasa ~
DeleteAh.. first congrats on the new job... I'm sure the strength to move the mountains might be needed... I liked the flow a lot in this piece-
ReplyDeleteespecially the stanza
but until then I shall
move the mountains with my pen
pave my own road with sweat
& thirst & thirst for the sky
And I hope there will always be yet another until :-)
Have to keep on keepin on through all the crap and aging the best we can. Congrats on the new job, Toronto though, bah that will be a lot of traffic
ReplyDeleteThis poem is wonderfully self-affirming. The spirit never ages, but continues to sing. This poem has your signature style of beauty and grace.
ReplyDeleteAlright! I love this poem's rebirth, taking the first step out of stagnation and gloom and praising SELF for that YES! The seasonal images melt into each other, Like falling in love again and again with the same person, those first steps (and the later wise steps) have to keep coming.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on making a change in your work life!
Deletethis is lovely I have a free spirit and sometimes I have to fight for it :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats by your new job, hope you enjoy dear Grace!
Your words, thoughts are in alignment with mine today. Beautiful Grace.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Grace. Change and challenge - they keep our spirits vibrant. Wishing you tons and tons of success (and easy travels down the 401 corridor) :)
ReplyDeleteI love the idea that our pens can move mountains, even as we near the winter of life. Congratulations on the new job!
ReplyDeleteThis poem is wonderful, as everything you put your words in. You've reminded me of Susan Sarandom saying: "I look forward to being older, when what you look like becomes less and less an issue and what you are is the point.
ReplyDeleteKiss. <3
I so adore this poem! Especially "and thirst and thirst for the sky" and the woman "aging with fire-spirit". Awesome!
ReplyDeleteI truly believe that when a woman ages and starts to not depend on her looks, life truly has only begun for her… And how sorry I feel for those who do anything to stay "forever" young. It really never works out for them, does it? Wonderful sentiment to pick a fine words to go along with it. I wish you all the happiness in your new job! How exciting.
ReplyDeleteWonderful! ...and Bon Chance!
ReplyDeleteZQ
Grace, I enjoyed your poem..the middle stanza touched me the most..thirsty for the sky..hope your thirst is quenched with the breath of newness..
ReplyDeleteAging gracefully is the ultimate. No counting of wrinkles to bother oneself. Great write Grace!
ReplyDeleteHank
Such acceptance of life, aging, and at same time - dedication to purpose 'move the mountains with my pen' ~ breathtaking reading...
ReplyDeleteLet the fire burn!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis one is so centering and beautiful...you remind us that maturing is so rewarding!
ReplyDeleteI have grey hair and wrinkles, but the fire isn't out.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder.
K
A beautiful poem ... age is just a number, may be the spirit always be young :-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful write. And congrats on the new job!
ReplyDelete"MUST read" for all females over the age of eighteen! Congrats on your new position, Grace.
ReplyDeleteNicely done.
ReplyDeleteAh, Grace! You and Gloria Steinem (who just threw her "This is Eighty" party) make me ever more accepting and contented as I age.
ReplyDeleteI thought I felt this way when I started to get older...until a couple of grays popped up and I scrambled for tweezers and did a thorough search to make sure no more were hiding! :) Now, I'm going back to embracing it again... crossing my fingers that will last.
ReplyDeleteVisiting today from Pat Hatt's!
ReplyDelete'To see the common becoming uncommon
In the flight of wings,
In the cusp of new moon' - loved this. truly poetic and moving as always, Grace.
"a woman aging with fire-spirit
ReplyDeletetaking the first step
And that
is alright with me."
This nearly brings me to tears.
That's just the way I want to embrace this age(ing).
Thank you Grace for your amazing way with words.
ReplyDeleteThere will come a time when winter
stiffens my bones
grows my hair all white
and tattoos my face in thin paper lines
Grace, these lines could have stood alone. Just beautiful. Best wishes on your new position. You'll do great.
Congrats on your new job. I wish you much luck.
ReplyDeleteSurely this is a site well worth seeing.
ReplyDelete