To the Agèd
When I was young (you weren’t so agèd)
Someone let me know, that all of us,
Eventually, have a time to go.
And I was scared – afraid to think
That I’d be left alone. One day I’d be
Without you despite in time I’ll grow…
Add fifty years, it’s much the same…
Still I’d like to know, how and if and
Whether I will manage on my own.
You taught us well: But did we learn…?
Hardly being grateful. You care for us.
You never stopped – ever being faithful.
You nurtured us. You loved us so:
Loved us as we grew. You love us now!
Uniquely, as no-one else could do.
(And by the way, we love you too…
… Never said enough. It all gets lost…
We rarely say the all-important stuff.)
You give so much. We’ve got so much;
You gave us family. But give me strength,
I do not want to sit atop that tree.
(When you were young and they were old
Was it just the same? Did you feel you’d
Learn enough to pass it on again?)
So thank you, thank you, thank you. Now
Standing on your shoulders, it’s time for us
To learn to be, to be the title holders…
For now you’ve aged and I am ageing,
Growing up, needs must. I pray our young
Will get at least, half-as-much from us.
Notes: Written over 6 months for my parents, but unfortunately too late for my Dad.
I read it out at a family service and it seemed both too late and timely, addressed to both Mum & Dad.