Older

Never did I ever think, I’d be invisible.

I always thought, I was quite invincible.

Never did I ever think, I’d be considered “older”.

I always thought, I’d stay young and bolder.

Never did I ever think, I wouldn’t catch a guy’s eye.

I always thought on my beauty, I could rely.

Never did I ever think my age I wouldn’t say.

I always thought my birth date should be proudly displayed.

They say youth is wasted on the very young.

Because you can never imagine life’s very short run,

You worry more about what others think to have fun.

And before you realize it, your life is all done.

Fast forward to fifty or over sixty now,

Where society views women less precious than a cow,

Put out to pasture to grow old and alone,

Not pursued by marketers - even those well known.

Passed over to employ or sit on a board.

Bounced off the glass ceiling back down to the floor.

Why should we feel disappointed by our age?

Or embarrassed we’ve hit a certain stage?

It’s time we celebrate and turn the page.

And make older women all the rage!

So today I wake up and say no more complaining,

Because nobody knows how much time is remaining.

I’ll stop looking at mirrors to judge my face,

And instead see my inner light as my base.

I’ll take every photo op and celebrate every line.

They each tell a story that is uniquely mine.

I will learn to love myself – body, mind and soul.

All compliments to me, I will accept and dole.

Here’s my new mantra…it’s quite a role…

To hell with backaches and facial wrinkles,

And to more grey hair and cellulite dimples.

To hell with dry vaginas and blurry vision,

And to thinning hair and indecision.

To hell with money wasted on anti-aging creams,

And to chasing youth and giving up on dreams.

To hell with the numerous trips to pee,

And to the pleaser I used to be.

To hell with arthritis and tendonitis,

And to my ass that’s not the tightest.

To hell with insomnia, waking up all night,

And to those little black floaters in my site.

To hell with worrying about what others think,

And to all the hormones that are out of sync.

To hell with old photos where I think look better,

And to thinking outer beauty must last forever.

To hell with the pop culture I don’t care to know,

And to the bikini I now choose to forgo.

To hell with telling me my face needs fixing,

And to anyone who tells me I’m not bitchen.

To hell with fake nails and no-carb meals,

And to very tight skirts and very high heels.

To hell with my bones that are now more fragile,

And to my body that’s a little less agile.

To hell with my mind that sometimes gets foggy,

And to all those mornings I wake up groggy.

To hell with not speaking my truth free,

And to any person who disrespects me.

I am here and worthy and have something to say.

I buy stuff. I have sex. I don’t live in a cave.

I have style without having to be in style.

I can light up a room with just a smile.

I don’t want to be a social media clone.

I create my life as my very own.

I may have less beauty, but I have more light.

I may look quite small, but I have plenty of might.

I can dance whenever I want to 70’s funk.

I have grit and resilience and plenty of spunk.

I have lived a life that makes me extra wise.

I have a lot more to offer before I die.

I’m ageless forever in my own mind.

I respect all who show love and those who are kind.

I need no one’s approval to make me feel fine.

I don’t need to fit in, because I’m one of a kind.

Like wine, I get better and better over time.

If you can’t see my greatness, it’s your problem, not mine!

(To watch a video reading of this poem, visit my YouTube Channel.)