These Lines on my face

I once knew a woman With lines on her face Who’d lived most her life In a much different place

A place where those lines Were respected, revered Where it was known They held the wealth of her years

And here, in a place That was scared to grow old She made us all realise The beauty age holds

For one day she stood And attracted a crowd She started to speak As we all gathered round

And we hung on each word, We were all mesmerised For her voice was so powerful, Knowing and wise

She smoothed down the crown Of her hair on her head Then she lifted her chin And her voice as she said

“These lines are not something To hide or to fear But something that says ‘I have lived, I was here’

They’re not to be counted Like bars of a cage But like rings of a tree That grows stronger with age

Grounded and grand Persevering and proud I’ve earned every stripe So I’ll wear them out loud

And though you might think I’d look better with none Just wait til you learn How I earned every one

Because I’m much more Than the way that I look And these lines on my face Are like lines from a book

That holds all the tales Of the things gone before me So come, take a seat And I’ll tell you my story”

***** Becky Hemsley 2024