I ran across a wonderful poem yesterday at the Celebrating Poets Over Seventy website
It reminded again of how much of our experience is shaped by our perceptions and of how each and every day provides opportunities for celebration and renewal regardless of our age. The poem follows.
I Don’t Do Old
there are things to do,
lilies to grow.
Stella d’ore’s blooms
are my galaxy.
irises’ blue . . . fill
my eyes with
ecstasy,
i don’t do old
i do global warming
with Suzuki, Schindler
and Al Gore’s concern
with climates
in crisis.
my affinity is with
the arctic – ice, melt, water,
polar bears
drowning –
i don’t do old.
god’s creativity,
and ideas light
my spirit.
art, literature
can fill me
with awe.
life is sweet,
never, i will
never age out,
i don’t do old.
kindness spins
my web,
altruism, a.i.d.s, h.i.v.,
world poverty
are my bonds . . .
entanglements of
laughter are the gossamer
threads that
tie my connections together . . .
i won’t do old
– sterling haynes
Spirituality, Therapy, and the Good Life 
Thank you Tammie. Still writing in my 83rd year, mostly stories for magazine and journals. My poem “Momma Does Milk” will be in a poetry anthology called “Crave It” which comes out in May, ’11 [published by Red Claw Press of Toronto]. My new book “Wake Up Call: tales from a frontier doctor” [Caitlin/Harbour Press] is doing well and working on more poetry and a memoir.
I am so looking forward to reading more of your wonderful work Sterling.