THE PASSING OF THE YEARS

THE PASSING OF THE YEARS 

I’ve done some thinking lately

And it somehow frightens me,

Just how the years are passing

And the changes that I see.

My body tells me I am older

But in my mind I am still a girl

Taking on the world’s great problems

With a flourish and a swirl.

I still have a sense of justice

As I had once before,

It’s my body that is aging

In my mind I’m twenty four.

Marching in a protest

Standing for what I believe.

I did that again at fifty five

No changes I perceive.

Forty years have passed

Since I first gave birth

To see my “baby” fully grown

The greatest joy on earth.

I have passed the baton on

To another daughter bold

Whose heart so wide and open

The whole world it could hold.

Brown spots upon my hands

Oh gosh - Oh deary me.

That only happens to older folk ~

But it is happening to me!

I still feel the same about things,

And still love and think and feel

All the things I always felt –

But there are wounds which will not heal.

I still feel the barb of great injustice

To the people of the world.

I still weep great tears of sorrow

As another grenade is hurled.

Once I would have stood outside Offices

And told them the thoughts in my head,

But arthritis in my feet now pains me

So I’ll email them instead.

It’s not a glamorous business

This growing older day by day,

But I try to do it with dignity

And watch the things I say.

Yes I am growing older

And I don’t like it very much. ~

It takes me about twice as long

To do only half as much.

I still weep at nature’s beauty

And friendships kindly ways,

The dewdrop on a summer rose

Crisp and misty autumn days.

Birthdays at forty, fifty, sixty

All came and went away.

I really am quite grateful

For each and every day.

So as I look in the mirror

And see the lines upon my face,

I try to recall the things I’ve done

And the memories I retrace.

I am glad I have these wrinkles

They are a map of the years,

They tell the story of my life

Of the laughter and the tears.

So growing old is a blessing

And thankful I will be

For all the friends who have supported

And travelled this road with me

  

©  Linda J. Vaughan

26 October 2004

LOOKING BACK

LOOKING BACK 

Looking back in memory

I see the changing years,

I look into your eyes

And I can sense your fears.

I see you as a young girl,

With diamonds in your eyes,

The path which lay before you

Holding open, clear blue skies.

I see you as a bride

With roses in your cheeks.

Happy hours with love for you,

Drifting into weeks.

Weeks turning into years,

With children at your knee.

Raising happy children ~

You were as happy as could be.

I hear your rippling laughter

And see the tears you shed,

You were only happy when

They were tucked into their bed.

Soon you stopped and looked

And saw the years had flown,

They were now returning

With children of their own.

You tire more easily its true

And seem to need more rest

I see how you feel at the silence

Of this empty nest.

You were left to walk alone

Yet love still shone from you.

You encouraged us all

To do things we needed to.

Your body now is aging,

But not your heart and mind

Always you have been a Mother

Gentle, sweet and kind.

I see you now your eyes still bright

Your heart still full of love,

For all you are and gave to me

I thank the Heavens above.

Only the body withers

Not the heart or care.

You had so much to give

And always you would share.

I see you as a Mother

With dignity and grace,

With love’s pure light shining

From your lovely face.

©  Linda J. Vaughan

October 1^st. 2006

THE PASSING OF THE YEARS

THE PASSING OF THE YEARS

  

I’ve done some thinking lately

And it somehow frightens me,

Just how the years are passing

And the changes that I see.

My body tells me I am older

But in my mind I am still a girl

Taking on the world’s great problems

With a flourish and a swirl.

I still have a sense of justice

As I had once before,

It’s my body that is aging

In my mind I’m twenty four.

Marching in a protest

Standing for what I believe.

I did that again at fifty five

No changes I perceive.

Thirty years have passed

Since I first gave birth

To see my “baby” fully grown

The greatest joy on earth.

I have passed the baton on

To another daughter bold

Whose heart so wide and open

The whole world it could hold.

Brown spots upon my hands

Oh gosh - Oh deary me.

That only happens to older folk ~

But it is happening to me!

I still feel the same about things,

And still love and think and feel

All the things I always felt –

But there are wounds which will not heal.

I still feel the barb of great injustice

To the people of the world.

I still weep great tears of sorrow

As another grenade is hurled.

Once I would have stood outside Offices

And told them the thoughts in my head,

But arthritis in my feet now pains me

So I’ll email them instead.

  

It’s not a glamorous business

This growing older day by day,

But I try to do it with dignity

And watch the things I say.

Yes I am growing older

And I don’t like it very much. ~

It takes me about twice as long

To do only half as much.

I still weep at nature’s beauty

And friendships kindly ways,

The dewdrop on a summer rose

Crisp and misty autumn days.

Birthdays at thirty, forty, fifty

All came and went away.

I really am quite grateful

For each and every day.

So as I look in the mirror

And see the lines upon my face,

I try to recall the things I’ve done

And the memories I retrace.

I am glad I have these wrinkles

They are a map of the years,

They tell the story of my life

Of the laughter and the tears.

So growing old is a blessing

And thankful I will be

For all the friends who have supported

And travelled this road with me

©  Linda J. Vaughan

LOOKING BACK

LOOKING BACK

Looking back in memory

I see the changing years,

I look into your eyes

And I can sense your fears.

I see you as a young girl,

With diamonds in your eyes,

The path which lay before you

Holding open, clear blue skies.

I see you as a bride

With roses in your cheeks.

Happy hours with love for you,

Drifting into weeks.

Weeks turning into years,

With children at your knee.

Raising happy children ~

You were as happy as could be.

I hear your rippling laughter

And see the tears you shed,

You were only happy when

They were tucked into their bed.

Soon you stopped and looked

And saw the years had flown,

They were now returning

With children of their own.

You tire more easily its true

And seem to need more rest

I see how you feel at the silence

Of this empty nest.

You were left to walk alone

Yet love still shone from you.

You encouraged us all

To do things we needed to.

Your body now is aging,

But not your heart and mind

Always you have been a Mother

Gentle, sweet and kind.

I see you now your eyes still bright

Your heart still full of love,

For all you are and gave to me

I thank the Heavens above.

Only the body withers

Not the heart or care.

You had so much to give

And always you would share.

I see you as a Mother

With dignity and grace,

With love’s pure light shining

From your lovely face.

©  Linda J. Vaughan 

October 1^st. 2006

PARK BENCHES HAVE THE BEST KEPT SECRETS

PARK BENCHES HAVE THE BEST KEPT SECRETS


They sit there in all sorts of weather
And the paint is often blistered,
The keepers of the secrets
Over time and ages whispered.
The same park bench used many times
By many generations
People from all around the world
From very many nations.

Oh if they could only talk
The stories they would recall
Of the days when little children
Would sit there after a fall.
Their mothers would sit and chatter
With babies asleep in their arms
Watching the children run and play
And keeping them from harm.


The children grew and life was changed
Then teenage sweethearts sat there
The Park Bench listened to the whispers
About the love and care.
Talk of the future was often spoken
And there were diamond rings,
A house, a car a family was planned
Among so many things.


Lovers now spend time there
On a quiet romantic tryst
Wondering who will see them
And if they will be missed.
The Park Bench holds the secrets
Of the man and woman there,
Leaves blow past and a cold wind blows
And chill is in the air.


A woman alone now shed her tears
The Park bench will softly sigh
The woman wonders why alone
The Park bench knows the reason why.
Park Benches have the best kept secrets
And can never ever tell
Over many generations
They have kept the stories well.


And older couple now sit there
With children at their side,
The Park bench recognizes them
And sees it as part of life's ride.
Seasons come and seasons go
Grandparents now spending time
The Park Bench keeps the secrets
Of the days of loss and pain.


A lonely figure slowly walks
And stops to breath again,
Faltering steps and a walking stick
Mean days of aches and pain.
She sits upon the Park Bench
Pours out her sorrow and grief
Life itself is very fragile
And the wind catches the leaf.


Park Benches have the best kept secrets
Of the love and the laughter and tears,
They have seen the generations
And listened to the outpouring of fears,
They have shared long lunches
Heard the hopes and plans and pain
In sunshine and in shadow
And in days of winter rain.


"Park Benches have the best kept secrets."


© Linda J. Vaughan
17th. February 2012

ONLY THE BODY AGES

ONLY THE BODY AGES

Looking back in memory

I see the changing years,

I look into your eyes

And I can sense your fears.

I see you as a young girl,

With diamonds in your eyes,

The path which lay before you

Holding open, clear blue skies.

I see you as a bride

With roses in your cheeks.

Happy hours with love for you,

Drifting into weeks.

Weeks turning into years,

With children at your knee.

Raising happy children ~

You were as happy as could be.

I hear your rippling laughter

And see the tears you shed,

You were only happy when

They were tucked into their bed.

Soon you stopped and looked

And saw the years had flown,

They were now returning

With children of their own.

You tire more easily its true

And seem to need more rest

I see how you feel the silence

Of your empty nest.

You were left to walk alone

Yet love still shone from you.

You encouraged us all

To do things we needed to.

Your body now is aging,

But not your heart and mind

Always you have been a Mother

Gentle, sweet and kind.

I see you now your eyes still bright

Your heart still full of love,

For all you are and gave to me

I thank the Heavens above.

Only the body withers

Not the heart or care.

You had so much to give

And always you would share.

I see you as a Mother

With dignity and grace,

With love’s pure light shining

From your lovely face.

© Linda J. Vaughan

amended 2011