Portrait of an Old Woman by auntietk
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Description
I am looking
At a photograph
Of an old woman
She is famous
In certain circles
Not a film star
Actress
Model
So she doesn't have to
Pretend
To be younger than she is
She looks
Directly
Into the camera
Her skin devoid of makeup
Or pretense
It seems as if
Her life shows
In her face
As if all foolishness
Has been burned away
Leaving quiet joy and
Calm anticipation
Those things that keep us
Distracted
From what is real
Have fled
Dropped
Somewhere in her past
She knows things
I don't know
Has seen things
I have not seen
When I look at pictures
Of myself
When I was young
I see the eager life
Of light and hope
That's gone now
Replaced by something
Different
Something more
Experience
I suppose
I am looking forward
To being that old woman
The one who knows
And no longer
Concerns herself
With those things
That keep us distracted
From what is real
Comments (12)
Faemike55
Very powerful and moving statement. I love it! I can see where it can apply to a man as well!
just stunning writing
Krittermom
Very thoughtful piece. You have a wonderful and unique way of looking at aging.
wysiwig
If we are lucky, as we age we will gain the wisdom to recognize what is truly important and let the rest go. This is a superb description of that. I hope I am around to see the old woman you will become.
T.Rex
Yesterday a man 60+ told me a little about his work and his life. He had been to so many places and done so much I was surprised! And he's a rather quiet, hard working person, still working in interior design and decorating (a lot of wood work). Reading your text reminded me of him. So much we older folks have with us of life experience, but too often not seen. Keep up the good work! :-)
giulband
Very thoughtful words !!
durleybeachbum
Brilliant! I think, apart from the 'famous' bit, that this could be me.
helanker
Well, that is such a fabulous poem and so true and beautiful too. :-)
beas62
Wonderfully said...words to remember so we don't waste time on the unimportant.
RodS
This is wonderful, Tara! Many talents you have, dear friend!
teressa
wowza! i think this is now in my top 5 favorites of yours...it just resonates with me and humbles me simultaneously....i feel so fortunate to have you in my life...you are my conduit to what is REAL and SACRED and WORTHY of my ponderings, my emotional investment, and my time. thank you precious friend. always, teressa
anahata.c
Wonderful responses...people respond to your inner journeys and language with great love. Poetically, your poem is written in breaths, thoughts, dropped out so we can ponder them and then move to the next one. As always, your break of stanzas allows us to sit with each one for awhile. And your lineation is also like breaths, natural punctuation marks (not the actual ones, but the ones that come from our inner rhythms). Examples of your typical lineation: "Actress/Model" "Have fled/dropped" etc. One line elaborating the last, going further. And singling out meanings through a line: "Pretend" (next stanza, "Or pretense"), "Directly," etc. It's a slow journey from discovery to your wish---which is stated as being from you, but it's for all of us. And there are some sound rhymes too---"quiet joy and/calm anticipation": two 'k' sounds. And a few others. And conclusions given their own line: "Replaced by something/Different". Many would divide before "something" so the last phrase is "something different". But you divided after, to emphasize "different". Small points, but the essence of poetry.
Like the message, the poem doesn't rush. It quietly looks, considers, then concludes. And your vision is delicate and loving. The cares and burdens of the past: May they drop off and leave the true person in their wake. And may we be that person, one day.
I wondered, when I first saw the visual, why you didn't post the woman's face. But then, after reading you, I realized it would have been superfluous, maybe even intrusive. You painted it better with words than a photo would have. And where you went with it was more important than the photo. A beautiful, gentle piece, about a beautiful realization of age, and written in the breaths and gentle strokes of a realization dawning quietly. A really fine and delicate poem. And great to see you post writing once again.
bmac62
I am privileged to know who was in the photo that inspired you. What a beautiful flow of words. Isn't Andrea's comment insightful? And Mark's comment...wow...there's a man who understands poetry and your talent. Your poem and everybody's reactions makes me so proud of you...hugs!!!