The Kingdom of the Wise

The Kingdom of the Wise​

Let every wrinkle be a feature,

Not some vanity-fed creature

That makes you loathe your aging face

And hide your beauty in disgrace.

You may not be all smooth and fine,

But your body’s like a vintage wine;

An ancient vat of distilled wisdom

So with grace, go run your kingdom.

​Let growing older be a prize,

A path you’ve won before our eyes.

No Botox, creams, or heavy fillers

Stop us turning into Godzillas.

Old age is a gift denied to many;

Life’s a brutal flip of a penny.

Between who lives and who must die,

None of us get out alive.​

I told the mirror she was lying

In my head, I’m death-defying.

Twenty-one, plus “something more,

“With experience at the core.”

So do not let the years bring gloom;

Swallow pride and let joy bloom.

Be proud of every hard-won scar

And your sporty, wire-free bra.

​Engage the world, and understand

We’re held within a higher hand.

Look at age, then smile and say:

“You cannot take me. Not today.”