I was inspired today by a piece written for Autumn Voices by David Donnison. See http://autumnvoices.co.uk/creativity-old-age/
David Donnison died in May this year, but he was 92 when he wrote the piece for Autumn Voices. Please read it for yourselves. I think you will find it encouraging and inspiring. If you’re over 60 you will also find opportunities for promoting your writing. The book Autumn Voices was launched last month in Edinburgh & Glasgow and the website makes for interesting reading too.
These days, not many regard ‘three score years and ten’ as old. Well, maybe that’s not quite true as younger folk will still regard that as ancient. I can remember the time when I thought anyone over forty was old.
It has been said that, generally speaking, we consider someone old if they are sixteen years older than we are at the time. I can’t remember who cited this, but I can see what they meant. The ‘old age goal posts’ definitely shift as we ourselves get older.
We may not feel very different ‘inside’ but a glance in the mirror reminds us of how much time has passed.
Past Reflective (After trying on a hat in BHS)
A look in the mirror
what do I see?
I see my old mother
looking at me.
Look in the mirror,
take off the hat.
Thank God for that,
it’s my own face back.
In the light of day or
the black of the night?
age sneaked up
like the apple tree’s blight.
(And now even BHS is a thing of the past!)
Life's a Beach 