On growing older... So many things about growing older are such a Pain The worst of all is knowing that you can't go back again To feeling or to looking young, to being fresh and new To bright eyes, shiny hair, and soft, smooth skin, so sadly True The Wisdom supposed to happen to us as we get more years Is sometimes turned to Foolishness and sometimes bitter tears But there is one advantage to this thing of growing older That's knowing Who you are that makes you feel a little bolder More confident, more self-assured, less liable to be shy Less apt to waste time waffling as Time is flying by You see Life is a journey with many stops along the way But better not to put off for Tomorrow life's Today And each Today is precious, ever more as Time is fleeting Tomorrow may not come, as hearts are known now to stop beating For as we grow older, we see Friends just pass away And so we learn by living how to cherish each Today And how to glean some pleasure from each Moment that arises And appreciate that Life for us still holds a few Surprises Dona Pearson 6/2/2000 Poetry