Before It's Gone

An old soul reclines in her chair

An excess of wisdom provides

The silver tint to her hair

Amicably, she watches

The youth, hearts ablaze  

Fighting for causes

That come and goes with each day

Peering at her fingers

Worn down by age

She sits and ponders

Remembering past days

When her hands labored in passion

Her feet were too bold

Her brow set with determination

The lines are still visible, we’re told

Now, her back gets to talking

Her hips do too

Making such a task out of walking

Unbelievable, yet true

Her body complains and whines

From this passing of time

It seems, the more that she learns

The less she can do

Gladly she relinquished

The pursuits of youth

To those with more vigor,

More time, yet less truth

They seek wealth

As she once had

Always working, working, working

To afford the next fad

How quickly the time elapses

If only, if only

They knew as she knew

Not beauty, nor power, nor wealth

Can slow down the clock

When death comes to visit

He doesn’t meekly knock

At the end of one’s life

There is this feeling:

I’ve lived all these years,

But what was the meaning?

For 95 years she loved and she lost

With each heartbreak

She counted the cost

Her breath offers

One final advice,

“Love one another,

No matter the price.

In serving one another

You will come to see

The beauty of life

Is humanity”