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Growing Old

THE stream of Life that brimmed its banks of old,
We drain to gather Wisdom's grains of gold;
And often as we count the riches o'er,
Half wish our wealth were drowned in it once more!

Notes

This was taken from the poet’s collection “My Lyrical Life” and in the sub-section entitled “Poems For Christi” Christabel was the name of Massey’s eldest daughter.

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Comments

1 - 9 of 9

  • Yemassee Moderators member
    August 5
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    Only half wish...the other half still clings to the riches of aged wisdom...I'd dive in fully...would trade that aged wisdom for youthful folly any day. But then again we who never found wisdom are willing to trade it easily.

    Much truth to these words as I'm now beginning to see. I guess all stages of life have checks and balances. Anyone want to trade?


  • August 2
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    From guest dame de la riviere (contact)
    This poem is wonderful. It speaks the wishes of many who long to see for what is lost to time. The poet employs in good fashion the Germanic style of capitalization which I have seen so often thrown about in the oddest ways by modern poets. A very good poem to be sure!

  • rbruce
    August 2

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    I am old by many standards and I think this poem says it all. I search all my life for wisdom only to find I have been outrun by adventurous men.

  • wilfredjohn
    August 2
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    very good

    10 stars

  • grannyeri
    August 2

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    Liked the flow, rhythm and rhyme in these lines. Guess there are so many ways of writing about growing old; nice to see how others in previous generations wrote about it.


  • rufina caraid Moderators member
    June 30

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    I care for people who have 'grown old' and though I don't want to be there for a while I have to admire their attitude to life in some cases.
    Having had a 'good life' 'a long life' they actually look forward to the time that they pass over into, what they believe, is the next stage of life. It's quite a humbling experience. So many of them don't wish for their youth but actually are ready to go, almost as if they have some prior knowledge of the experience that awaits them. I think perhaps Gerald Massey was a younger man when he wrote this piece, as he reached his 79th year he may have changed his mind - we'll never know!


  • LivinitupCutie
    June 29

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    Indeed true to every words..full of knowledge and wisdom in every words...thank you for sharing~Lieu

  • Spirit Song
    June 27

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    Oh the wisdom of the old poets! One does not have to have a long poem to glean riches from them! Imagine the days when a write sent to a daughter were dedicated to a daughter and thought of as a gift..My how times have changed!

  • paulcreates
    June 27
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    There is such wisdom in these few lines. I love the use of metaphor.
    Paul


  • hamid
    June 27
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    so sad

    SO sad but its true we have to face!

1 - 9 of 9