What is Youth

It’s been a lovely weekend filled with conversation, gardening, selling rabbits, and a time driving with my fellow.  We did our best to avoid construction but…. some was unavoidable but not too bad.  Hopefully it will be winding down soon.  I’ve realized my time is drawing short to do some of the things I want to do before the bad weather hits….  Makes me feel pressured in my head you know?   So taking time to think through a word prompt helps with that.  Draws me out of myself.  This poem What is Youth is the result of pondering Miss Kate’s word prompt Youth this week. 

What is Youth

What is youth?
The question is begged
by older ladies toddling around
a store, searching determinedly for
what is needed, falling within budgets.

Like a toddler with limits imposed
by a mother, learning that for all
his determination, somethings, just
aren’t going to happen.

Bumps and bruises cover his body,
reaching for something, a tad bit
out of reach and leaning, a fall
happened with a gentleman trying
hard to be helpful.

Bumps and bruises cover her body,
this determined little wildcat,
setting off to catch the world on fire,
and learning that some fires should
be slowly built and nurtured so
they don’t burn out in pain.

The crack of a bat in the
oldtimer’s league,
the squeal of delight
in the middle school
lacrosse game winning score.

The stupid decisions of
an 90 year colliding with
the idiotic decisions of a
25 year old, both ending up
shaking their heads at the silliness
of their ways.

So just what is youth?
Pride in accomplishment,
learning from decisions made,
unsteadiness in mobility?

Is it just a number
or a mindset?

Some are “old before their time”
and others seem to just
“never grow up”.

The bible says in 1 Timothy
Let no one despise you for your youth,
but set the believers an example in speech,
in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

and in Proverbs 20 we read
The glory of the young is their strength; 
the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.

Regardless of age, respect is due 1 Timothy
Do not rebuke an older man harshly,
but exhort him as if he were your father. 
Treat younger men as brothers.