Writing in Snow

Coming of Age

Istiqlál (Independence), 14 Jalál (Glory), 147 BE - Friday, April 21, 2017 CE

Prompt for April 21—a coming of age poem

Coming of Age

"In order to be old and wise, you first need to be young and stupid."
Unknown

When does the wise kick in?

At 70
I still find myself
doing and saying stupid things.

Not as many
as when I was 20 or 30,
but stupid
sometimes comes out of mouth
and I still trip over it.

Maybe coming of age is
knowing that you still have a long journey
before you can claim
true maturity.

I don't worry as much
as I did when I was younger,
I place more situations in God's hand
and I'm less likely
to ask for them back;
still I don't think I'm
as mature as I should be.

I'm my own worst critic,
so perhaps
I'm more mature
then I think I am;
I'll let God
make that judgment.