April Poetry: To Be Old in the Spring

In recognition of Poetry Month, and to celebrate our treasure trove of Orcas Island poets, Orcas Issues is pleased and honored to offer daily poetry during April.

TO BE OLD IN THE SPRING
by Susan Schwartz

The faded cotton curtain floats up on a breeze
that smells of leaf mold
and mud, and spring flower scent.
I sit, fraying quilt wound around my knees
in my old flannels,
looking outside at the perfect blue sky.
In my luxuriant laziness, I scrape across the wooden floor
to refill my coffee cup, then back to my cushions.

I look down at old brown arms, withered, but strong
holding the deep maroon cup I bought
at the pottery store last year. Steam rises in the coolness.
Wondering how I have been so lucky
to have seen so many years go by
and still be here, peaceful, content.

Is there something different I should be doing?
At my age, my grandparents were
fighting a harder battle,
still scraping out a living in the mountains,
carefully accounting for seed for the planting season,
worrying about the cow
who was about about to calve.

I look through the open door, and see
the sun sparkling through fir branches.
In the distance, the light glints in such a pleasing way
off the raspberry canes I’ve planted.
Tomorrow the onions and turnips go in.
I will enjoy this blessed day, and all the ones that may come.