last night <br />before I lay down to sleep <br />I prayed the Lord my shape to keep <br />to let no wrinkles come. <br />nor age spots to grow <br />where once my youthful vigor <br />radiated and I was youthfully young <br /> <br />I asked the Lord <br />not to let gray hairs show <br />nor my limbs to grow numb <br /> <br />you know what the Lord did? <br />he brought me to a forest of flowers <br />I gaped at the animation of life <br />nothing remains permanent, He said, <br />for everything there is a season <br />night must give way to sunrays <br />vapors must rise to fall back as rain <br />fire must beget cold ashes <br />so when a tree dies it is the stub that grows instead <br /> <br />long ago my Grandma said, <br />the longer you live <br />the more you sin against God <br />to die is a virtue God gave us <br />so everybody must change faces <br />like we change our dresses <br /> <br />this evening, I thank God for growing old <br />age is a price to pay for maturity <br />though a new broom sweeps clean, <br />the old brush knows all the corners best <br />if you refuse to grow <br />you'll miss a good broad smile <br />as to have a silver head <br />is like to kiss an angel a good morning<br /><br />Padmore Enyonam Agbemabiese<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/on-my-40th-birthday-2/
