Elderly Woman, Morocco (Photo credit: United Nations Photo)
Nature is at its most beautiful
The moment before the decay
Flowers in full bloom
Butterflies in flight
Hovering over the precipice
Of decline
Similarly the lines of age
Upon a face
Begin to trace
The trajectory of wisdom
The beginning of peace
The calm and balance
Of acceptance
In this youth obsessed world
We miss the rule of nature
As it applies to our own kind
And to the true beauty
Of our elderly
We tragically
Are blind
Let us not miss
The perfection
These moments before
The decline
(c) Helen Valentina 2013, All Rights Reserved
helenvalentina 
I love this!
“Similarly the lines of age
Upon a face
Begin to trace
The trajectory of wisdom”
Thank you so much, very much appreciated! 🙂
I timely reminder … especially in this day and age. Actually, any day and age. So much for the wisdom, and beauty, of our elders. Sad.
Yes, so much wisdom and the beauty of experience, lost on a youth based culture…. thanks so much for commenting. 🙂
My favorite stanza is the first one. Especially these lines (because not only is the point driven home well but the imagery is really strong):
Flowers in full bloom
Butterflies in flight
Hovering over the precipice
Of decline
Thanks so much, it is true that so much in nature is at its most beautiful just before the end… 🙂
Brilliant…
Thank you so much!! 🙂 🙂
beautiful poem & image…..i once saw a film called ‘Latcho Drom’ a film about the origins of the gypsy, by the way they came from Rajasthan in India. ..anyway the film charts its course and ends in flamenco Spain. two dancers covered in black cloaks and their backs facing the camera danced in great energetic frenzy. as the camera came around to their faces the couple were in their 80’s, craggy faces, full with life….i love this poem
Thank you so much – that films sounds amazing! 🙂
Oh yes, yes maybe you can get int on line, the music starts like said in India, moves over to Iran, then Romania where you these strange gypsys living in trees then onwards through to Spain of course they moved onto Ireland as well..wonderful music, wonderful imagery
Simply beautiful! I feel calm and relaxed after reading this. I think it has to do with your word choices and your phrasings. Like I said, simply beautiful… oh, my…
Thank you so much Jack, so much appreciated! 🙂
So beautiful this Helen, and so well said! 😀
Thank you so much!! 🙂 🙂
I think this may be my favorite of yours. This morning, I noticed a few more greys, and a wrinkle or two in the silly sunlight. Somehow, I felt at peace, though. Each line, a laugh or a brow furrow that God has been with me through. Then to read this, just beautiful, Helen. Give you a hug for me!!
Thank you so much! 🙂 What wonderful timing! 🙂