The frivolity of youth and inevitability of our capture by and awakening to youth are so ably portrayed in this piece. Good work, Carole.

Delightfully achieved poem, Carole

well penned...and the date tells its own story :)

Love Tinka

Hmm. Yes, I am starting to experience this now. The silent creep of mortality and lamenting of the passing years. But remember, in the words of Tennyson: "...men may rise on stepping-stones of their dead selves to higher things."

Wonderful writing sweet lady..always a pleasure to read you...stay safe and well..Hugss

Excellent!!

Among my faves are "woven into your hair" and "treasuring nothing."

Talk about getting close to home! I am having a hard time not being
suckered in by ads for expensive face concoctions that "firm and
erase," 'cet, 'cet, yata-ya. Need new glasses, but I'm stalling for fear of what I will see in the mirror. Call me shallow, but who doesn't want to look like the person inside? I am more than half child. Where do the wrinkles come from?;)

You are a jewel, Carole Mathys.

At any and every age!!

xOx Phyllis xOx

always a pleasure to read you, carole.
sage words herein.
carolyn

YOUR PHRASES TOUCH AND SPEAK TO THE SOUL...TRUTHS OFTEN IGNORED...OR DENIED. WELL DONE AND ENJOYED. THANKS FOR SHARING, LOVE AND BLESSINGS, JOYCE * HIS INSPIRATIONS

Carole, I like your poem it's Good poetryHow are you?

A powerful stock-take, Carole, that is so eloquent and elegant, too. I am both soothed and ruffled by such ponderings - as I am by looking in the mirror these days! - and you reflect with great accuracy both the sudden "alarm" and yet fascination provoked by the acknowledgement of the effects these prior choices have brought about in our lives. A steady hand, heart and mind writes here. Bless you, Kate xx

Thank You Carole
Once again I have the pleasure of reading your
wonderful thoughts, peace be with you

William

You remind me, Carole, that I'm running out of choices...
but I love the way you say it:

as life holds up a mirror
reflecting time’s passage
etched upon your face...

-gene.

very powerful and well written ... when dreams dim, youth is indeed gone ...

As absolute gem!!!!! This is fantastic poetry, Carole...I really must pass it along to some friends....well penned!!

Anna

WONDERFUL POEM!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Liana Margiva

Oh my, such honesty and one poem that many of us can relate to..I am now always embracing every moment that I breathe, and living every one of them as if they could be my last..Lovely poetry!

Peace, love and light,
Amber

"...in subtle small pieces..." so right, Carole, and then the "waking up one morning" 'killer'... that moment of realisation, that great (and for some, awful) truth that confronts each and every one of us.
How well you say it!

John

In your golden years you have time to reflect on the choices you have made and those that were not too wise.

George

You express a universal and timeless theme in your verses here, Carole. Most meaningful and compelling. Thank you. Love and best wishes,

Regis

I resemble that remark, Carole. I am who this poem was written about. I know you didn't write it about me, but it fits. I waster so much of my life and in doing so I hurt the people I loved. Truly loved. I just found, at the time, that standing upright as a man was not to be my forte, and I have paid for my errors in many sundry ways. It took me many, many years to forgive myself and to try and live out my remaining days without an aching heart. You have read my poems for a few years now, Carole, and i know you well understand where I am coming from. The poems were a sort of catharsis, but even so it took an inner struggle to "really" confront who I was and deal with it. I did that as late as last October. I can honestly say, although my sins against my children and their mothers are still there I can honestly say I am a happy man today. My demons are gone. Your poem touched me.

Oh, my, God, Carole, did you ever nail it with this poem! I'll be seventy-six later this month and still, looking in the mirror, I simply cannot believe that all the years of my youth and middle age are passed, and so many years of my older age are upon me. You really nailed it with those, oh, so true words.
Think young and stay well, my friend.
Mark

Well done

Honesty in such a splendid poem that touches us all as we acknowledge the truth that's in the mirror !
Superbly done, Carole! etw

Truer words never spoken or penned into a finer poem.

If we have been given the gift of longevity, let us dance and sing songs of great joy. Youth, that fleeting time and place where we dwelt with disappointing brevity was but our mentor. We had the legs to go long distances in a short amount of time. Now in the eyes of age we have the easy chair to sit and watch time rapidly fly by. In youth our choices were limited only by our imagination and desire. In old age we have far less choices that our aging infrastructures are capable of supporting. A beautifully expressed perspective of, "Choices" Carole. May great joy love and peace be yours abundantly my dear friend. Jon Michael

Intense write Carole and one I cannot argue with for as I allow my beard to grow in white and long for my Santa gig at the mall, I see the story even if I don't always believe it. lol
fee