Dr John Celes - Sonnet: World Elders’ Day 2005

They slogged all life for self and family;
They sacrificed their precious time for all;
They worked for children’s sake primarily;
They made others’ life sweet: their own like gall!

But those were days when they had body-strength;
And now, their frames are weary, also weak;
Their string of life seems cut short now in length;
With will-power, their livelihood, they eke.

God cares for them and blesses them though aged;
They may fall prey to sicknesses sudden;
Their lives were full of crosses: ‘wars’ they waged;
Edentulous, they smile with (out) children?

Today’s youngsters are indebted to them;
One’s elders are akin to rare a gem!

Dr John Celes

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/sonnet-world-elders-day-2005/