When I Grow Old Poem by Aanuoluwa Adebanjo

Everyday brings me closer to my grave
Yet each day my wish is to grow up
To live free
And own my house
To earn my freedom
And do things by myself
To be totally independent
And to make my choices
With no interference
But when i grow old
And my pretty skin is wrinkled
And i can longer walk the dark nights
Without a hand to guide me through
When my black hair shall turn grey
And i can longer chew with my teeth
When my legs can longer carry me to the places i want to
When i shall no longer write my name
For my hands shall shake uncontrollably
When i shall sleep in fear
That i might not rise to see another sunrise
When i grow old
Only then will i realise my greatest wish
Was to be young forever