let wisdom speak
with the voice of a sage
fear not, friends, the reckoning of old age
nor regret the vanishing of thy youth;
let wisdom speak with the voice of a sage.
...
thy day done, mark the turning of the page,
weep no tears, lest grieving, life’s end reprove;
fear not, friends, the reckoning of old age.
...
do not curse the fullness of years nor rage
when darkness’ dread approach thy death should prove,
let wisdom speak with the voice of a sage.
…
rouse thyself, shy not, take the lordly stage
to thy kith and kin share every truth,
fear not, friends, the reckoning of old age.
…
the tales thou tell are thy legacy’s wage,
thy example makes coin for life’s tollbooth;
let wisdom speak with the voice of a sage.
…
when thy breath weakens to signal the change
and loved ones gather with fond love to soothe,
fear not, friends, the reckoning of old age
let wisdom speak with the voice of a sage.
About the Creator
John Cox
Twisted teller of mind bending tales. I never met a myth I didn't love or a subject that I couldn't twist out of joint. I have a little something for almost everyone here. Cept AI. Aint got none of that.
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Bruce Lee and The God of War: Kuan Ti
It starts with love.. The Power to the God Of War and Wealth Walk into a Chinese restaurant (even in Oklahoma, USA), a Chinese police station, a kung fu martial arts studio or even a Chinese temple and you often see a red faced warrior holding a heavy quan-do (spear like weapon).
By WILD WAYNE : The Dragon King7 days ago in Chapters
Comments (10)
I love the rhythm of this poem, John. And these words life’s tollbooth! We can only hope they hear our wisdom and not think it’s words of foolish old person, LOL!
What about those of us with the wisdom of a babe?
Your wisdom in this feels so comforting to me 🥹 Sometimes I think about the impending darkness and how much I'll miss reading and writing poetry in my eternal sleep, lol. But yes. aging is a gift, and I wish our society praised and honored our elders more-- it might not quell the fear but perhaps some of the anxiety?
🎙️✨Quite a grounding opening. That we must not regret the 'vanishing of thy youth' Far better to — 'let the wisdom speak with the voice o' a sage.' 🎙️✨'Kith' I have never seen or heard that word before. But I am glad I now know the meaning of it. Pushing back against what is inevitable, might be a losing battle — we won't win. 🎙️✨This was enlightening. It feeds us wisdom while allowing us to rely on the thing that does not die — which is wisdom. Outstanding work, John 🤗 ❤️ 🖤
Only those who live to be old will truly understand your meaning, sadly I too was one of them. But how can we know until we live it. Even when they told me it hurts to wake up, I didn’t understand. This is one I believe I may print and hang in my office if that is ok with you ?
Well-wrought, John!
Great villanelle, John and I'm loving the pics. Yes, old age is a gift, I think. I hate the aching joints and the sagginess but I love the outlook experience gives me.
Oooo, makes coin for life's tollbooth, that was brilliant! Loved your poem!
A beautiful reflection on aging and wisdom. 🌙
What a way to say that growing old is really not that bad. Good job.