Getting old



this tree is full-grown
less flexible now
wrapped in rings of earlier life
that cut back its flowering
and slowly force to give up

forces defied
shaped by the past
readable in hardened layers
that support the tenderness inside
until they are finally weathered

the resistance in the present
the coping with
captured in wrinkle lines
sometimes very thick but also fine
where there was less fighting

knotty wood shows experience
widely branched in young years
even more versatile with age
where decisions were made
and tears have flowed

this tree has grown old
remained steadfast upright
didn't get tired of life
can still provide soft shades
and shelter to relax in

About this poem

This is my own translation of a poem I originally wrote in Dutch in 2007 in honor of elderly people sharing their rich experience with the younger

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Submitted by ludy_b on May 03, 2024

35 sec read
17

Quick analysis:

Scheme XXABX CXXCX XXXXB XXXXX XXAXX
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 667
Words 116
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 5, 5, 5, 5, 5

Ludy Bührs

The topics she writes about are very diverse, so are the poetry styles she applies. As a Dutch translator and poet, having lived in Cambodia's capital city Phnom Penh for 2.5 years, in 2008 she published "Op de ruïnes van een rijk" (On the Ruins of an Empire) ISBN 978-90-8834-483-1 with 60 poems based on her experiences there. In 2007 she received a Certificate of Accomplishment as one of The Best Poems and Poets of 2007 issued by poetry.com and the International Library of Poetry for her poem Choked Truth, her own translation of "Verstikte waarheid", one of the poems in the book. Born in 1956, she still works as an independent translator, translating from English into Dutch. more…

All Ludy Bührs poems | Ludy Bührs Books

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2 Comments
  • GCTHOMAS
    Ludy, thank you for this poem. I find it inspiring. I love the subject of life and aging - even more so now that it is happening to me lol.
    LikeReply 18 days ago
  • Oceanloveisland
    Beautiful, as always.
    LikeReply 114 days ago
    • ludy_b
      Thank you for the appreciation!
      LikeReply14 days ago

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"Getting old" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 17 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/186475/getting-old>.

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