The Autumn of my life

The Autumn of My Life

It has come ... finally.
I did not ask for this; there was no
invitation issued.
It merely arrived, unannounced,
draping across my shoulders
like a lost love, finding
its way home after
a long absence.

I did not succumb; quietly I screamed ...
not without a fight, rallying bravely againstz
the image, but it is there ... proof.
I indeed have lost,
for the reflection that greets me
is no longer the stranger.

The eyes that cast outward,
the lines mapping the face with
gentle detours, the smile waiting to be set free ...
They have reconciled the mirror to myself.

But, I am not ready for this new season.
My spirit runs to join the spring,
full of each new discovery. My body
stretches in preparation for the marathon
of summer.

And yet ...

The turning pages of a calender are in sync
with the changing colors of the leaves ...
Green when I was the apprentice, yielding
orange as the seasoning of life was applied,
red as I learned to bask in the time of now.
Holding my hand to hide my gaze, I refuse to see
the final color; it is not yet my season.

Aches remind me that youthful actions
belong to the young of body, not the young of heart.
And wistful sighs are just exhales of breath
that dreams have abandoned, blanketed in.
These will have to do ...

Patience lingers around everything I do,
beseeching me to embrace, accept
the unhurried passing contained within
wisps of time ...
neither old, nor new, just now,
as wind directs my focus ahead.

This time is my time.
Gone are the expectations for others.
Conflicts of ambition and reality
merge.
Confident in the knowledge
that I have learned from my past,

I can now
grasp what is in front of me
while reveling in the honor of who
I am.

Time is not my master, nor my slave;
it is what I make of it.
Slowly with conviction,
I concede as blood courses its own path.
I am ready for its arrival ...

The Autumn of My Life

(c) Stephany Borders
January 2012

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree Stephany.
"I can now
grasp what is in front of me
while reveling in the honor of who
I am. "
Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry and your thoughts.
Coyote

[Stephany]

Thank you, it is not always easy reconciling our image of our life to what time shows us. Glad you stopped by

[Coyote Poetry]

Was my pleasure and you are welcome Stephany.

[Chris]

You touched upon our existence in ways showing a depth of understanding it takes living a life's time to appreciate and understand.

"againstz "...

[Stephany]

I am not sure we ever fully "get it", but it is better than arguing with something you have no control over. LOL Like we ever have control over anything...hehe

[Stephany]

thanks for stopping by..

[Prritiy]

But, I am not ready for this new season.
My spirit runs to join the spring,
full of each new discovery. My body
stretches in preparation for the marathon
of summer.

And yet ...

The turning pages of a calender are in sync
with the changing colors of the leaves ...
Green when I was the apprentice, yielding
orange as the seasoning of life was applied,
red as I learned to bask in the time of now.
Holding my hand to hide my gaze, I refuse to see
the final color; it is not yet my season.
.
.
.
.
This time is my time.
Gone are the expectations for others.
Conflicts of ambition and reality
merge.
Confident in the knowledge
that I have learned from my past,

I can now
grasp what is in front of me
while reveling in the honor of who
I am.

Time is not my master, nor my slave;
it is what I make of it.
Slowly with conviction,
I concede as blood courses its own path.
I am ready for its arrival ...

Wow i loved this, the apprehensions and then accepting the reality and finally rejoicing and seeing the Power it has.
nice poem :)

best wishes

[Stephany]

It was kind of you to stop.
I'm glad you appreciated this
Thank you

[Prritiy]

you are welcome.