isatou juwara - Old Age

My grandmother, she's so old
has no teeth
poor grandmother, once the village beauty
can hardly see
to talk to gandmother, i have to shout
for grandmother
can barely hear.

But she can walk long distance places
with energy emanating from bygone days
when relentlessly she toiled under the African sun

So now when young men
ask me for a dance
i cannot help but wonder
at my old age
who will???

isatou juwara

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/old-age-36/