Growing Old

he's engaged in normal conversation,
like every visit they share.
they've come regularly since days of bare feet and braids,
since days of excited footsteps pattering on tile.
now they sit,
texting on their phones as he talks to the tops of their heads.
they nod and say the right things,
always leaving him with an emptiness-
he sees his age in their eyes.
they go through the ritual of playing their latest piano pieces,
his most cherished part of their visits...
for as soon as he hears the nocturne on the out-of-tune keys,

he's a dashing young man clad in a starched uniform,
with gleaming war medals clinking as he walks.
the room is filled with respectful eyes
watching him sip a cocktail while conducting business in murmured words.

then, the front doors open,
and she steps in.
heads turn, and he puts down his drink to take in her presence.
her eyes sparkle as she locks a gaze with him.
she crosses the room,
places her warm hand over his,
and smiles.

with her beside him,
his youth could never be taken away...

the nocturne ends.
the children resume their mechanical conversations
until his granddaughter, their mother, picks them up.
as soon as she arrives,
they softly kiss his cheek and rush out the door.
she walks across the room, 
sits next to him,
places her warm hand over his,
and smiles.
she has her grandmother's eyes,
he thinks as they sparkle back at him.
and for now,

he feels young again

* * *

Image and poem by 17-year-old Suzanna Hodges, niece of Shutter Sister Stephanie Roberts. Suzanna made this image of her great grandfather using Tiltshiftfocus, PhotoShop Express, and Instagram apps on her iTouch. Do images ignite your imagination in the form of visual poetry?

We are giving away one $100 Paper Coterie gift card EVERY SINGLE DAY of September! Share a comment each day before midnight EST for your chance to win that day's random drawing. Be sure to leave links to your story shots.

Comments

[Caryn]

Wow. I am so impressed. Suzanna...your beautiful words and image brought me to tears. You are both perceptive and wise beyond your years. :-)

[Chris]

This is beautiful, moving, touching. It brought tears to my eyes. To be only 17 and have such depth and knowledge? I can't wait to see where life takes you. Thank you for sharing with us.

[Betty R]

Suzanna, you truly have an old soul. Moving words and an equally moving image. Thank you for sharing this.

[giftsofthejourney (Elizabeth Harper)]

Very impressive! It renews and relieves me in a way to know that there are some in the next generation with the ability to see more than what is temporary.

[Marcie]

This is beautiful!! Suzanna - you have a true gift with words!!!

[Ella Kreilisheim]

this is all so beautiful - so sad - and so true. The poetry is finding its way into the picture - mature work and great empathy of a young girl ! Bravo - bravissiomo ! You are certainly going to be there for both your grandparents and parents alike.
And- let us all train ourselves in the art of seing the person behind the eyes- and forget everything about age. Because age is not identity !!

[Suki]

Wonderful poem. :) I love it!

[Karyn]

Beautiful.

[Christineellen]

Wow, what a lovely puem and photo, it made me teary eyed!

[Jen*Murphy]

This is beautiful! So touching. Suzanna- you are gifted.

[cathy @ ma vie trouvee]

What a talented young lady. A beautiful photo and poem.

[Bridget [aviary]]

this is really beautiful--and impressive. This recalls warm memories of my father with my children.

[Jennifer M.]

Love this. Love all her pictures and poems. She is a treasure. :)

[Puna]

What a wonderful poem and beautiful accompanying image. I suppose this gift runs in the family!

[JoHanna]

This is truly art. What a talented young woman. Brought a tear to my eye. Thank you so much.

[Kelly]

What powerfully poignant words from a 17 year old. This was beautifully expressed and resonates so much truth. Thank you for sharing.

[Jess]

So beautiful!

[koreen]

Very touching and lovely.

[~Kristina]

Suzanna, your image evokes emotion, your words reach my heart. Embrace your gift.

[Geri]

This is beautiful - and coincidentally my husband and I spent some time this morning reflecting on growing old and all that it holds. How wonderful to find this post this morning.

[Shawna]

Just lovely. We lost a beloved great uncle last week, so this hits close to home.

[Heather]

lovely,

Heather

[Kathy]

Suzanna is a very talented young woman. Moving words and lovely image.

[Laine]

Beautiful image! Beautiful poem!!

[Jessica]

Absolutely beautiful, insightful, and wonderful. It reminds me of my grandfather. Thanks for sharing, Suzanna.

[Sandee]

What a beautiful poem and photo! It brought tears to my eyes.

[Gail]

The poem is as beautiful as the photo...evocative. At 17 this talent is a gift to us all.

[autumn sun]

this is so touching, so real. a wonderful piece in words and image. thank you for sharing this with us all.

[Amy E.]

Thanks for sharing! Here's my link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/67441414@N03/6141016914/in/photostream

[Kristen Romano]

What a wonderful poem! It's thrilling to see that a teenager has such an incredible talent. Keep it up!

[Christina]

hello there Suzanna!
this is so beautiful and tender at the same time. i love it to bits.
sending you love, my friend.

http://soulaperture.blogspot.com/2011/09/blooming.html

[Christine Hickey]

I am always filled with a sense of hope when I see our young people express such maturity, insight, and awareness. I hope that our future lies in hands such as hers.

[Jen]

This is a beautiful way to tell a story! I hope as my children get older they have the wisdom to see such depth in their grandparents....

[bridge]

Oh sweetie! That poem just warms my heart. I have all my grandparents in my life and the feelings you captured here resonates!

[Melinda]

Beautiful!

[beth]

This was such a wonderful post, I loved the form of the words and the peek into his past. Such emotion...

Here's my link, where I tried my hand at some poetry. (Monday August 8)
http://languageofthelens.blogspot.com/2011_08_01_archive.html

[LeAnne]

I love poems and interpreting them through photography. The following is one of my favorites:

http://photosbyleanne.blogspot.com/2011/09/time-to-think.html

[NatsterNat]

This is a beautiful post... lovely poem and photo. It's hard to believe you are only 17!

[Libertad Leal]

Absolutely wonderful and touchingl!

[cheris]

Nice! I wish I had my grandparents to photograph...

[chris]

Makes me wish my daughter could have met her grandfather and his parents.

[Kathy]

This. Is. Beautiful.

[Bonnie]

Great work . . . so beautiful and touching.

[Emma]

This poem tugged at my heart. It is so sad and yet so beautiful. I love it.

[Heather]

beautiful post.

[shirley]

Wow, such a beautiful poem.

I'm sharing something lighter - some football action:
http://www.shirleybehindthelens.com/2011/09/football-in-car.html

[joey]

This poem and photo made me think of the antique dolls my mothers has been refurbishing. The poor old dollies seem to be thinking of their younger days too.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19379573@N06/6142606368/in/photostream

[Radish]

What wonderful work from this young woman. Terrific.

[Kat]

Beautiful post! Image and words both convey so much.

[Sonja (a.k.a. Boots)]

Teach your children to value our elderly.