Old Love

Pondering the gnarled vineyards of twilight, It is for these grapes that I hunger, For they have survived the drought and the blight, Bearing scars of days when they were younger The fruits of old love are tender and sweet, For they've learned to endure sun and shade; Keeping strong through gale force winds, snow and sleet, Their true value has been measured and weighed Old love seeks beauty deep within the heart, The wrinkled face and the graying hair Matter not, yet what a sting they impart To the lonely tangled in Time's cruel snare Observe the pearl fishers - they're not concerned With the oyster's shell, but with the prize That's dwelling deep inside, for they have learned They might find a gem in cunning disguise Satisfying are the fruits of old love, So patiently they wait to be claimed By soft, wizened hands, gentle as a dove, Yet displaying passion's touch, unashamed Love that has withstood the test of the years Is a love that's worth its weight in gold; In spite of all the sorrows and the tears, Old love can still bear fruit a hundredfold How blessed are we who can see love's sweet truth Unfolding before our very eyes; We don't need the exuberance of youth To yield to love's call under star-filled skies! Old love has had its feet held to the fire, And it emerged, still able to stand; It survived the bogs of life's muck and mire, What more can be said..... for sure, old love's grand!