An ode to growing old

On Sept. 21, the Leader Times published features on the Poetry Trail near the Crooked Creek Environmental Center and on poet and retired Indiana University of Pennsylvania English professor Ronald Smits of Manor. At the same time, we solicited poetry submissions from our readers. The deadline was Oct. 16.

Professor Smits has completed his review of the submissions and today we publish the fifth in a series of those.

• The author is Betsy Crum Decosmo, who grew up in Kittanning and graduated from Kittanning High School in 1952. She has been living in the Wilkes-Barre area since 1962, where her late husband taught for many years at Wilks Uinversity. She taught in the local elementary school during those years. "I have fond memories of Kittanning and visit there as often as possible," she said. Here is the selection chosen by Professor Smits:

Old• Who, Me?

When your children call you "Granny"

And your husband calls you "Dearie,"

When your knees are feeling achy

And your eyes are getting bleary,

When the checker gives a discount

And you haven't asked for one,

When the TV finds you sleeping

Though your favorite show's begun,

When your cereal is bran,

And you drive a gray sedan,

When you always take a sweater,

And your favorite cheese is Cheddar,

When your hair has turned to blue,

And your teeth are loathe to chew,

When your waist has gotten wide

And your wrinkles multiplied,

When your feet are always cold,

Then, just face it, you are old!