Beyond Many Noons Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

There are those who dislike,
Being reminded...
That life lived has a process.
And from each stage left to leave,
There is a step that requires...
Aging to experience with it to receive.
Although one's youth to feel and it to keep,
May not be one's wish to have it witnessed.
Since many wish to believe,
Mother Nature can be deceived.

And yet there are others feeling so blessed,
Each day they awaken to do this to express.
Without feeling regret to have taken steps,
To go through this process and accept.
With this prioritized to do to not expect,
Becoming upset like those who reject...
Being reminded their aging to get is noticed.
Or so obvious they have gone beyond,
Many noons awaiting for that full bloom.
And Mother Nature is kept perplexed by it.

'You look radiant and vivacious.
And for someone 'your' age,
I know you pray everyday to say blessed.'

~If I wasn't limping in pain,
I'd hit you with my cane.
What blessing is there to get,
When the only thing gained...
Is another pain to maintained.~

'Don't be so hard on yourself.
I went through that same stage.
But I wasn't about to do the 'age' thing.'

~What do you do?
Lie to yourself like others choose? ~

'Tell everyone I know who is getting old,
It's okay not to keep it forever practiced.
You can feel radiant and vivacious.
What's preventing you from doing it?
Hmmm...?
Throw down that cane.
And stop reminding yourself of the pain.
The process is better felt if accepted.
We only get one noon to come to full bloom.
That's it.
After that there is no going back.'