The View from Here

As I age

and wisdom reveals itself

in silvery strands of gray

and memories bittersweet,

I see with crinkled eyes

all that the dewy innocence of youth

hid from me.

With each encroaching wrinkle

I laugh at the dread once felt to reach this place.

There is nothing to fear,

only freedom

as I finally become

who I was meant to be

all along.