When I am eighty—
should I make it that far—
I will look back at photos of me now
and see how beautiful
how smooth the skin, bright the eyes
wide the smile, white the teeth
remembering how easy it was to get around
how gracious I was, how lovely my full hair.
Even on the good days at eighty
the me now will favorably compare.
Just like now looking back in time
to when I could only see my younger flaws
and now can see her beauty and grace
and wish I had…
noticed.

Margaret Dubay Mikus
© 2010

From Thrown Again into the Frazzle Machine