At Poetic Asides, the prompt was, “Maybe _______.” (Fill in the blank.) After realizing I’m 54 and there’s so much behind me, this poem spilled out like tequila. I even ate the worm! Amy (P.S. I am officially posting all NaPoWriMo posts at Writer’s Island.)
Maybe Now
If not then
when time was fluid and forever
when ripe fruits were there for the picking
and flowers spilled out our window-boxes
as palms shuddered in the warm California breeze
If not then
when every day was an adventure yet to come
when we were fools
and innocence had run from us, scared
and jaded juices thumped in our veins
Maybe now
now that we have grown older
now that we have learned the meaning of “folly”
we will look back with the leisure of age
and see it all had meaning
And our worst mistakes are behind us
or not
© 2010 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Sharp Little Pencil 
booguloo
I love this one!
Sharp Little Pencil
Man, Michael, you hopped on it. I only posted five minutes ago. THANK YOU! Amy
Linda Voit
Hi Amy,
Good to see you on P.A.D. Nice poem – great capture of youth and wisdom and a nice zinger on the end. Not to be cliche, but the check is in the mail (for a chapbook)– Can’t wait!
Debra Elliott
Beautiful Amy!
Debbie
I love how you work the prompts, Amy! Your poem is fantastic . . .as always!
andy sewina
Hi Amy, thanks for pointing me towards your blog!
Love this piece! I think the last line ‘or not’ probably applies in my case.
-Andy
Sharp Little Pencil
I KNOW it applies in my case, LOL
RJ Clarken
Amy – this was such a great poem on so many different levels. I can almost hear Mary Hopkin (singing about the tavern and raising a glass or two) in the background. I feel nostalgic and strangely forward thinking now, all at the same time.
Sharp Little Pencil
Man, Randi, you just took me right back to the first time I heard that song… in a tavern with some friends. And yeah, we raised more than a glass or two…! Thanks so much for your sweet comment. A.
Gloria
Oh, I do hope they’re behind us!!! 😉 At 66 I reeeeally related to this one. “with the leisure of age” we do see more clearly. Love this! And thanks so much for visiting my site and for your kind comments. 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Gloria, it’s a mutual admiration society we’ve got going. I’m 54 and pray for the same! Glad we are bopping back and forth… A
Judy Roney
It does all have meaning..I believe! This is a wonderful expression of youth and then being able to look back. Love this!
http://judyidliketosay.blogspot.com/2011/04/maybe-tomorrow.html
pamela
Amy, we can only hope that the worst mistakes are behind us, your words ring loud and clear in this.
Pamela
thanks for the email 🙂
Roger Green
Pamela’s unnecessarily optimistic. I expect to make misteaks, er, mistakes tomorrow.
And I’m older than you.
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, yeah? How much older? Throw down, man. ha ha
vivinfrance
Ah, you young things… I still make lots of mistakes, and so will you.
I enjoyed your poem very much. Physical difficulties aside, being old has loads of compensations.
Sharp Little Pencil
Personally, I’m only 10 years away from some great senior discounts. I agree, we all have mistakes, but notice the mention of the “grandest” being behind us. Or ready to slip a banana peel under our feet!!
Tilly Bud
I like the ominous last line.
Mr. Walker
Amy, a great take on the ideas of age and wisdom, that we all age, but we don’t always learn. I love that last line – “or not”.
Sharp Little Pencil
That was written for me and many of my friends. Those of us who have been shared by temptation always have that dangling thread…
Buddah Moskowitz
Ah, the folly of youth and the wisdom of age. Well, written – not a bit sappy , which is what poems of this ilk tend to be, at least, that’s how I’d have written it.
Great, as usual, my sistah! – moskareeno
Sharp Little Pencil
Moskeeto mio,
Thanks for the non-sappy remark. That’s where I was aiming, and I’m glad you feel I found the mark!! And I don’t think ANY of your writing is sappy, brother… Ameleh
M.A.S
Amy, the language and images throughout the entire poem are gorgeous! I can’t even pick any favorites. But throughout the poem, I get the idea that the choices made in the past aren’t mistakes at all (even if we think they are)-then the last lines seem a bit contradictory, implying that maybe all that crazy youthful behavior did have some serious mistakes.
It’s just my take-But still, this is one of your absolute best poems that I have read. I’ll have to go look back on your blog a ways, because I would like more, please!
Sharp Little Pencil
What a thoughtful comment, Michael, thanks! Yes, I do ping-pong between regret and gratitude for those mistakes. Your praise is making me blush, though! I’m gonna bop on over to see what you’re up to now… peace, Amy
Kim Nelson
Or we realize a mistake is just another way to learn a lesson, to move on…
ladynimue
It all makes sense after few years i agree .. but some times it takes lot longer to let go of the pain ..
Sharp Little Pencil
I know, Nimue, I know. A hug from me to you, Amy