'Wrinkles' Poem by Whitney Nicole Albright*

As a child, I’d go to my grandparent’s house in the sticks
I’d see cats, dogs, ducks, and baby chicks
I would run around the yard so wild
For it was an interesting place to be a child
I would touch my grandma’s colorful yarn
Shuck corn with grandpa back in the barn
Play with trinkets, necklaces, and rings
Uncover a box of all sorts of things
Like a wanderer finding mysteries
I was a kid learning of their histories
As I’d fish with grandpa in the lake
Or help him work with my tiny rake
I always felt grandma had a mystery about her smile
Which made my entire childhood feel worthwhile
Next thing I knew, I was sixteen
I’d still go see them on routine
And help make fried apple pies
I wasn’t much help but I’d still try
I’d listen to grandpa on the couch snoring
And watch other children in closets exploring
I still knew grandma had a mystery about her smile
Which made my entire teen years feel worthwhile
Now, I’m all grown but still drive to the sticks
Some animals are gone, like those sweet baby chicks
Time’s turned their hair gray and thin
The wrinkles have got deeper in their skin
But I still see them as the most beautiful creatures
For they have the most amazing features
I still see myself as a child uncovering mysteries
I’m still a kid learning about their histories
There’s a story behind every wrinkle
There’s a life in every crinkle
And one day as I go about my way
I hope I live as old as they
And my grand’s look at my face
And find a mystery in its trace
I’ll tell them how my grandma had a mystery about her smile
And it seemed to make my entire life feel worthwhile