What I’m Learning About Aging

by Katherine Gotthardt

What I’m learning about aging
is we don’t do it alone –

everything able to dust gather 
lines alongside us, trinkets defiant 

on that same cherry shelf
saved from the fate 

of the thrift shop.
We think when someone passes,

this time they’ll look twice,
ask what we knew before now,	

where we found the most value.
But mostly we see each other,

silver and heavy in our limited number,
tarnishing into the unrecognizable.

Just things atop meaningful things. 
Waiting to be remembered.  

Katherine Gotthardt

Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt is an award-winning poet and author seeking meaning, peace and joy and hoping to share it where she can.
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