There I Am Ageless

I peer at myself in the mirror. My forehead is nice though I like it covered with bangs. Lines there are to be expected, and so too, the crows’ feet at my eyes. At the base of my forehead are dark brown brows. They are the one aspect of my face that I’ve deliberately and totally transformed. No longer Brook Shield eyebrow lookalikes, they have been plucked into the tamer form I desired. My nose is the same long nose with its strange small hump that I detested since my youth, but I have learned to live with it. Though I am not fond of my profile, when I see myself straight on, I find my nose rather cute. As with all things in my life that I learned to accept with time, I now accept the length of my nose as a quality which gives it character. My extradordinary Roman nose is part of who I am, regardless of the fact I have no Italian blood! When I really analyze my aging face, I see that the weight of all my years has lengthened it. My face was always long, but nicely oval. It’s even longer now, thin, and just a tad droopy. Yes, life has pulled it down, and I’m not terribly pleased about that. Chipmunk cheeks above smiling dimples have given way for a somewhat more somber look due to my laugh lines (no laughing matter) having grown more defined. Those deeper lines I think reflect my having delved more deeply by now into things of which fresh youth can simply not conceive. If I could use a veil, my long-lashed eyes above it would seem the same as I have remembered them since my guiless youth. Their light, indistinct color (Grey? Green? Blue?) stays forever lovely. Find me behind them. There I am ageless. Dec. 22, 2019 for the The Metaphor Of Your Face Poetry Contest of John Lawless March 18, 2022 for 'A BRIAN STRAND 1092' Contest