Observing Aging

• Jayanty Pannu, Grade 11
• Poetry
• 2017

Old and deteriorating - crouching and glaring at their fancy
crystal headed walking cane which gave them the support
their children should’ve been giving. They've grown up.Too much.
The placid eyes appeared as if they had been exposed,
perhaps to the not so far end that used to seem ages away.
Resigned; sick: not the blandness of every passing day but,
of lifting the weight due to eventually collapse on everyone.
Dried out tears filled the crevasses under their eyes,
coming down to noses that once poked high in young confidence
Narrowed eyebrows indicated distress concealed with frustration,
of not keeping up with the violent crowd that they once led.
Embarrassed for being unable to extend their desirable moments
forever, that they promised will last against the odds of zero.
Ashamed of defeat against the decaying life; the aggressive time
that gently…roughly pushed them out of the way into a corner
to slowly self deconstruct.