Pansies (Lawrence)/Beautiful Old Age—

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BEAUTIFUL OLD AGE———
It ought to be lovely to be oldto be full of the peace that comes of experienceand wrinkled ripe fulfilment.
The wrinkled smile of completeness that follows a lifelived undaunted and unsoured with accepted lies.If people lived without accepting liesthey would ripen like apples, and be scented like pippinsin their old age.
Soothing, old people should be, like appleswhen one is tired of love.Fragrant like yellowing leaves, and dim with the softstillness and satisfaction of autumn.
And a girl should say:It must be wonderful to live and grow old.Look at my mother, how rich and still she is!—
And a young man should think: By Jovemy father has faced all weathers, but it's been a life!—
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