In Hawaii you know you are old when
the twentysomething at the coffee shop
calls you ‘Uncle’ or ‘Auntie’
terms of endearment
of respect, of honoring the elderly
expressions with their roots in
the Asian way of life and thinking
where ‘old’ is not synonymous with ‘senile’
where older people are still regarded as
fountains of knowledge and experience
not deadwood waiting to die
obstacles to sweep out of the way
bodies to hide in special prisons
called nursing homes, retirement communities
assisted living facilities, or care homes
No, no, no, no, no,
life does not end at 70, or 80, or even 90
the elderly should be regarded as
valuable members of society
the pillars the young ones
can stand and build on
and when they look down from
standing on our shoulders
let them remember that
they too will be ‘Uncles’ or ‘Aunties’ one day