On Aging Fiercely - Kristy Hellum

[Larry Robinson]

On Aging Fiercely			

I am going to seed

Look around 

All these blessings need scattering

Somewhere

There is an art to Elderhood
It is time to ask the
IMPORTANT question:
Where do I spread all of these seeds
I have collected?

I thought it disloyal at first
To the holy worship of youth
But hiding the baubles of delight
Has become impossible.

The splashy bangles
Around my bones keep jangling
sounding like hooray hooray!
Or I admit sometimes ouch ouch!
Which is simply
An invitation
To slow the hell down

Who knew walking
 s-l-o-w-l-y
Could be considered graceful
Or even seductive? 
I lean towards the latter. 

And I will carry no ordinary cane
Already a hand carved
Walking-stick inlaid with
Chakra colored stones waits kindly
Against the far wall. 

One day I may use it				

As my planting stick					
Or perhaps an encouragement 			
To stand taller 					
To better see where
I am to scatter
All of the seed-blessing
That are filling my pockets.   

	- Kristy Hellum