Grace After 50 #3
A river gently washes the tears of women over 50
Inexorably cleaning the crevices under sagging skin
Drenched in gravity’s reality.
We are the ones left behind
By children grown
Whose schedules press unceasingly.
Outlived our usefulness,
With fingers intimate with
Cooking, laundry and the drying of tears.
A river of Grace seeps through us
Binding old wounds
Salving new ones,
Its sweetness clearest to those
Most intimately acquainted,
Whose wounds sharpen as days unwind.
Let my hand touch the ragged edges of you,
For mine are similar.
Compassion lies in the knowing,
Such knowledge binding us
As we let the river enclose us,
Hold us fast to one another.
Copyright All rights Reserved 2011
Shared with Poets United Poetry Pantry
http://dversepoets.com/2011/11/15/open-link-night-week-30/
Inexorably cleaning the crevices under sagging skin
Drenched in gravity’s reality.
We are the ones left behind
By children grown
Whose schedules press unceasingly.
Outlived our usefulness,
With fingers intimate with
Cooking, laundry and the drying of tears.
A river of Grace seeps through us
Binding old wounds
Salving new ones,
Its sweetness clearest to those
Most intimately acquainted,
Whose wounds sharpen as days unwind.
Let my hand touch the ragged edges of you,
For mine are similar.
Compassion lies in the knowing,
Such knowledge binding us
As we let the river enclose us,
Hold us fast to one another.
Copyright All rights Reserved 2011
Shared with Poets United Poetry Pantry
http://dversepoets.com/2011/11/15/open-link-night-week-30/
A beautiful reflection, full of sadness yet resignation...so eloquently expressing the pain of roughened relationships that survive by grace alone...
ReplyDeleteThis man loves the depth of understanding and comassion of a woman of maturity...
I agree, the young rush through life as if there is no tomorrow and, many times they don't slow down enough to think about the people they leave behind them in their wake.
ReplyDeleteA lovely slow swim in the flow of your life's river.
That it is--thank you for the read and comments--much appreciated!
DeleteBeautiful...our hands do become beautiful testimonies of the care we give over a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteLovely and sad...Nice lines
ReplyDeleteLet my hand touch the ragged edges of you,
For mine is similar.
Compassion lies in the knowing,
Such knowledge binding us
As we let the river enclose us,
Hold us fast to one another.
Thank you Ayala!
DeleteIt's nice to know the river of Grace is a promise for the future. I was deeply touched by the heartache of being left behind after children grow into adults.
ReplyDeleteThank you Laurie!
Deletethis is a beautiful capture of reality...a tough place certainly as the years pass...sad on some levels but i like how you end it coming together even as the river takes you...
ReplyDeleteThank you Brian!
Deletelove the idea of a river of grace, excellent piece.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the read and comments--I greatly appreciate them!
DeleteRiver of Grace.... nice image...
ReplyDeleteI am glad for the last line - the 'we are not alone' feel. Nice :)
Thank you Robert!
DeleteVery much enjoyed this from the far side of 60! You capture the experience well.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much liv2write2day---
DeleteI don't think those over 50 have outlived their usefulness, not at all. It seems to me that the ending of this poem is coming to terms with what reality awaits us or perhaps in greater realities. Your words show us that process of self-awareness taking root and growing into a fuller, wiser consciuosness. Rumi says somewhere that even in our ruins we find the Transcendent. I see your words pointing that way.
ReplyDeleteThis has been a time of endings and new beginnings--of changing and adapting and looking for wisdom in the midst of all of that--it is a sad time when children leave, but also a time of rediscovery of self and of partner--thank you for your understanding Charles--
Deletea somber reflection of aging but also of hope in staying close to those who know how we feel.
ReplyDeleteIt is a new time and a new way for me--Thank you so much for the read and comments!!
DeleteHmm, I hope that we do not outgrow our usefulness though. Do you really think that? I think that there is much a woman over 50 can give to her children and everyone else in her life. Our children may not (or may) be in our homes, may be adults, but I think a mother is still very important in adult children's lives. But I do agree that many times it is good for women of a certain age to form their own alliances and friendships, as they understand more than anyone (probably) what it has been like in previous years.... A thought-provoking share.
ReplyDeleteI know I felt that--was wrestling with that at the time--having come out the other end, I feel whole again
DeleteI must admit I felt like my days of usefulness were behind me until I realized I could take the same skills and offer them to the world in a different way, namely through my words. Our poems are like our children as well, we not only give birth to them we must nourish and nurture them... I appreciate Mary's thoughts that even though the kids are grown it doesn't mean they don't need their mothers. My daughter's best friend's mother just passed away and watching what she is going through, how she expresses just how deep the loss of her mother will be to her life, really drives the point home.
ReplyDeleteI agree that our life and work do not end and I also agree that we go one as mothers, but our roles change and I believe that change is inevitable--as we work though big changes, our feelings are often in a state of upheaval--Thank you so much for the read and thoughtful comments--
DeleteLovely reflections ~ I can relate to you words but I must say that I am freer now with my choices and have more time for myself now that my children are older and need me less ~ There is much to learn to specially in the forms of writing ~ Happy Sunday ~
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday to you as well Heaven and thank you!
DeleteOh I love this poem, though I appear to be even busier in my supposed "retirement" than ever. I love the idea of a river of grace......love the understanding among older women of the pain we have weathered, all that has broadened us. Love the "ragged edges", though I was more raggedy when I was younger, before life smoothed me ! This poem expanded my thinking, and that is always a good thing.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy that you enjoyed this piece Sherry! Thank you for reading it!
Delete"Gravity's reality" is an excellent sound/concept pair!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jack!
DeleteVery moving exploration of aging and change, excellent word usage.
ReplyDeleteThank you rch!
Delete