I stand
before the mirror of time,
body so different
from my youthful days.
Behold the origamic shapeshifter,
like that ancient Japanese artistic form.
I have been myriads of reiterations
sans pencil, paint and cutting board.
I see an intricacy of lines
deftly creased again and again
touched by life and love.
I am beauty within my folds.
Written for dVerse where today Kim asks us to write a poem to help someone facing a problem such as “finding your first wrinkle” or the “birthday blues.”
lillian the home poet 
Oh, I love this, Lillian! I also love that you have chosen ‘finding the fist wrinkle’ and ‘birthday blues’. And the image pf the origami shapes is perfect = are we unfolding as we get older?
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Thanks, Kim. Just getting to reading and reading responses now as I was 5 days with my grandchildren. Seems your “fist wrinkle” struck a chord with a few folks. Perhaps a title for a future post? π
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π
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That should say ‘first’!
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I like “fist wrinkle.” π
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This works so well… there are those moments when you really notice the aging, and so many others when you forget, but being origami comfortable is perfect.
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Origami comfortable…..exactly! π
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I love this….it is familiar….I feel like a shape-shifter….but you embrace it all so well. Touched by life and love. I instantly feel better about myself…XXXX
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Shapeshifter exactly describes what my body is doing π As someone once advised me, look up. Because when I look down, I see a belly that I never used to have! π
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Now THIS is inspirational. Beautiful work, thoughts, and attitude. This is very clever.
These are my favorite lines:
“Behold the origamic shapeshifter”
“I have been myriads of reiterations”
“I am beauty within my folds.”
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Thank you! So very glad you enjoyed π
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Being happy with the new folds is the acceptance of the passing of time. Lovely sentiments.
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Ah yes…….acceptance and rejuvenatement…..just call me pollyanna!
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Your image of the folds made me think of an artist whose work I admireβEvelyn De Morgan. She did folds beautifully π
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I will have to google her!
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π
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If your profile pic is accurate, you are beautiful – no need to ask. Also, I love the person who wrote this wise and vulnerable verse. Oh, it was you? Then, I must love you. π
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Blush…..many thanks for the kind words.
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The last line makes “finding the first wrinkle” worth looking for.
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Smiling I am. Kim’s typo may eventually become a new post somewhere along the way.
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Ah, such acceptance and wisdom. I shall immediately adopt that I am origami. Love, love, love it!
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When you think about it….we even started out as origami babies…..you know. Newborns are wrinkly and their little knees and legs are drawn up, folded in, to their bodies. You have to stretch out the little legs to get the diaper on? Yep — come to think of it….we are the ancient art of origami by the time we get to our rejuvenatement period! π
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Your last stanza is killer; a terrific poem. I, too, wrote of birthday blues, but without the lightness & affection & insight you included in yours. Bravo, you rocked the prompt & made me smile big time.
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Always happy to make you smile, Glenn. Glad you enjoyed this one!
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“I am beauty within my folds.”
Oh, I absolutely love this. My body as origami. YES to this.
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As I said to someone else….suddenly, reading these replies, I realized that we are origami beings from the day we are born…all wrinkly with folds and our little legs drawn up, folded up into our bodies. Remember having to stretch out the legs of a newborn to change their diapers? So, when you think about it….by the time we get to our rejuvenatment periods (never say retirement) we are indeed the “ancient art of origami!” π
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Personally, I don’t like looking in a mirror. When I do, some old woman keeps getting in front of me! Great writing, Lillian!
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Yup — she must beat it over to my house in time for me to see her there too! π
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Loved this! “Deftly creased” was my favorite line and I hope that when I get older I can see myself as a piece of art, as you suggest.
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Ah, when you think about it…we are, each one of us, a piece of art continually in design. π
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Wow, I love this one. I can certainly identify with your first stanza, as my muscular toned body of my youth is now one with drooping skin here and there, muscle not solid. The 3rd stanza is full of self awareness and acceptance of how we change as we age – love the last line… Lovely Lill. π
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As I said to someone else, when you think about it, we’re born with origami bodies! Newborns with wrinkles, folds of skin, and little “chicken legs” that are folded up into our body so tightly that they have to be stretched out to have diapers changed. So by the time we reach 70, we are indeed the “ancient art of origami!” π Yup — gotta love our folds! And grey hairs too!
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π
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Lovely poem!
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Thank you! Glad you enjoyed.
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“I am beauty within my folds.” Oh yes! Wow. This is poetically exquisite. Love every line. β€
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Thank you, Maria. So glad you enjoyed and how wonderful you’ve made me feel this morning, seeing a heart at the end of your reply! π
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“I am beauty within my folds.” yesssss yessss yesssss you are! β€ β€ β€ loooove this a lot, Lill!
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Three hearts……you’ve made my morning! π Thank you!
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awwww. always!
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That last stanza is a stunner telling me Wisdom is beauty itself.
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Thank you! I really appreciate your thoughtful response here. I think we must love ourselves to love others, right?
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Yes, yes, yes! “i am beauty within my folds.” Perfect. Just perfect β€ β€
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Thank you! I really do believe that we must at the very least, like ourselves so we can love others. The human form is always changing….shapeshifters are we all. I just think we need to learn to enjoy the process instead of striving to be like some photoshopped photo of an image that is not real.
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I completely agree with you. We should be our natural selves. Wrinkles, grey hair and all.
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Love the strength of attitude in this poem, Lillian!
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Thanks, Jilly. I did enjoy the prompt! It’s all about rejuvenaqtement! (Never say retirement)
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What a wonderful comparison between our human skin and origami! Love this empowering poem!
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Ah, thank you! After all, we were all once origami babies (wrinkled, folds of skin, and our little legs folded up to our bodies so tightly in the womb that they have to be stretched out a bit to get those tiny diapers on and off!). So we really are the “ancient art of origami” — shifting at each stage of life!
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You saved the best for last in this gorgeous, inspiring poem.
Truly one of my favourites of yours….so far.
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Thank you, Mish. Your words mean a lot and set me up for a very good day! π
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Love the wisdom in this! One of my favorite lines: “touched by life and love”. I also like how the origami is in the shape of a heart.
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Thank you! You’re the only one who caught the shape of the image…as in joy and love of life!
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A beautiful poem of acceptance and I love your ‘origamic shapeshifter’ analogy :o) xxx
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Rejuvenation with every passing year!
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:o) xxx
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Excellent language use in the linking of your life to the creases, yet beauty of origami,
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Glad you enjoyed!
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Your wrinkles make you beautiful π
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Oh…that is so sweet — and true! I wear mine with pride π
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I’m glad, someday me too π
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oh, so beautiful…I liked the origami part…!
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Ah yes — the folds of lifeπ
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Brava.. πΉπΉπΉ
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Ah, three roses. Thank you!
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