"I Am Not Old" | A Poem by Samantha Reynolds

This month, I share our space with Samantha Reynolds, author of the poem, “I Am Not Old.” What I love about poetry is the powerful economy of words. I’ll admit, I am too wordy. I over-explain, over-describe, over-emote. By contrast, this poem feels like little explosions of truth.


“I am not old.. she said
I am rare.
I am the standing ovation
At the end of the play.
I am the retrospective
Of my life as art
I am the hours
Connected like dots
Into good sense
I am the fullness
Of existing.
You think I am waiting to die..
But I am waiting to be found
I am a treasure.
I am a map.
And these wrinkles are
Imprints of my journey
Ask me anything.”
~ Samantha Reynolds


“I Am Not Old” speaks about aging in powerful, positive language. It grabs me, it shakes me and at last, it sets me down in a place where I can feel that someone sees me and understands. 
“I am the standing ovation at the end of the play…” Sisters, it’s time to take a bow.

What piece of this poem speaks to you? How did "I Am Not Old" make you feel?