All the ill-informed Etiquette lessons From privileged experts, The fashion do’s and don’ts, The tips on being Better than the rest Fall away At a certain age. I’ve tried on lots of things Over the years. Only a few stuck And are tattooed to my inner skin. I like it that way. Mostly, though, I’ve schooled myself to stop Looking at others’ reactions as a mirror. I don’t really give a damn. Being a critic merely doesn’t make you right. No need to go full-blown Curmudgeon, either. Getting older shouldn’t be A stiffness. It’s about opening. Acknowledging. Clear-sighted seeing What’s good, what’s not, And what’s inbetween. Above all, what is me. It’s a fluid movement, A flexibility That stretches broadly (if awkwardly), Swirls and dances, yelling, “I’ve got nothing to prove— I’m past caring. You can keep your favorites.” Time to be my own favorite, for a while. - Meredith Alexander Kunz
A Certain Age
July 20, 2020 by MK
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