Woman Combing Her Hair Before a Mirror, 1877
by Edgar Degas

I’m Too Young To Be Seventy
by Judith Viorst

Deep in my heart I believe I’m
Too young to be seventy.
There are times when I’m wearing my baseball cap and my jeans
That I even can imagine that, glimpsed from the rear, I might be
mistaken
For someone who could still be in her teens.
Late thirties?
Early forties?
Middle fifties?
I think I could do the middle fifties just fine,
Like that actress who, when asked how she could be fifty-four
when her son was forty-eight,
Replied, “My son lives his life, and I live mine.”

In the life that I’m living I’m
Too young to be seventy.
The woman I see in the mirror is not the real me.
When I elevate my chin,
When I suck my stomach in,
When I throw my shoulders back,
When I tighten all that’s slack,
I can’t be any more than
Sixty-one
And a half?
Okay, sixty-three.

As long as we can agree I’m
Too young to be seventy.
Too young in my heart and my soul,
If not in my thighs.
Too hopeful.
Too eager.
Too playful.
Too restless,
Too insufficiently wise,
Too young.
Did I mention too young?
Too young to be seventy.

Judith Viorst, born in 1931, is a journalist, psychoanalysis researcher and the author of several works of fiction and non-fiction for children as well as adults. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, her most famous children’s book, was first published in 1972 and has since sold over two million copies.

Her first novel for adults, Murdering Mr. Monti, was published in 1994. Other books for adults include nonfiction psychology books such as Grown-up Marriage, Imperfect Control, Necessary Losses and Suddenly Sixty.

She received a B.A. in History from Rutgers University, and is also a graduate of the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute. She began her career as a poet and has since completed at least six collections of poems for adults. In the latter part of the 1970s, after two decades as an author, Viorst turned to the study of Freudian psychology. After six years of study at Washington Psychoanalytic Institute, in 1981 she became a research graduate affiliated with the institute.

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deletereply paulishd wrote on Sep 22, ’08 This is a deeply saddening poem for me (oops, I’ll keep the bemoaning moans to a minimum, I promise!) as I think about my mom, who turned 70 on August 28, just after her hip replacement on August 25. She would not be able to speak this poem along with Viorst, having already lost the vitality that the poem reflects. But I wish everyone could get to 70 and beyond with this spirit and health! That’ll be my wish for folks for today.

deletereply starfishred wrote on Sep 22, ’08, edited on Sep 22, ’08 Oh I love it and I know so many in that group where I go swimming and they are 80+and spo vital it puts us youngsters to shame.Great poem Laurita.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Sep 22, ’08 Thanks, Heidi. I think the poet is just playfully poking fun at aging. Everyone ages differently, and I guess part of it depends on how well we take care of ourselves. Paulishd, I’m sorry to hear about your mom. Hopefully, she’s doing ok now. Yes, I also wish that everyone could get to 70 and beyond with this spirit and health.

deletereply billatplay wrote on Sep 22, ’08, edited on Sep 22, ’08 I can relate to that. lol When visiting hospital scrubbed and dress to kill with a blue shirt I stand erect chest out and smile. Practicing in the mirror my wife say’s, “What are you doing all this for?” I reply for them, “He’s got to be worth the trouble” they will think. I really do look 60 – 61, lol Nearly 85 and that fast one mile walk in 20 minutes this morning hurt me. Was taking a heart monitor back. lol

deletereply sanssouciblogs wrote on Sep 22, ’08 Love the comments here! I love this poem!, the art, the post. Bill’s comment is so cute!! And I really do look 20.

deletereply ladywolf11 wrote on Sep 22, ’08 I enjoyed your poem, and I also am enjoying reading everyone poems, great group keep going have a great day everyone. No matter what age you are, make the most of it. Stand tall, and smile, its another day you woke up… 🙂 🙂

deletereply billatplay wrote on Sep 22, ’08 Sue. And I really do look 20.??? You told me you were 18. lol

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Sep 22, ’08, edited on Sep 22, ’08 Hey, if Sue looks 20, that would make me look around 14 !

deletereply vickiecollins wrote on Sep 22, ’08 Wow, great poem. I feel it myself…I cant be…well ahem the age the calendar says I am..(grin) Thanks for sharing this delightful poem. http://vickiecollins.multiply.com/journal/item/480/Wednesday_Poetry_Panic_and_Mercy

deletereply ladywolf11 wrote on Sep 23, ’08 I like her attitude, (Judith Vicrst) so much so I went looking her up – and in my blog you will see her “The New Alphabet” poem– thanks for having me learn something new each day, It is a goal of mine and to day I did it!! Humor is the tool that helps keep us young so thank you for sharing and bringing us a Smile sunshine smiles and rainbows may they be yours always

deletereply paulishd wrote on Sep 23, ’08 I should have mentioned the following about Viorst when I said that this poem made me a little sad as I think about my mom. Thirty years ago, I gave my mom a copy of Viorst’s collection, “How did I get to be 40 & other atrocities.” The inscription reads, “To Mom from [Paulish] as a belated birthday gift September 1978.” Twenty years later, I received the same book back with this inscription: “To [Paulish] from Mom January 1998 From a new perspective.”

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Sep 23, ’08 What an interesting and funny story, paulishd !

deletereply ladywolf11 wrote on Sep 23, ’08 Hugsssssssssssssss dear, what a nice gift from you to Mom and Mom to you- smile when you remember you are in my thoughts

deletereply dianahopeless wrote on Sep 23, ’08 I can certainly relate to this poem. But I try to stay away from mirrors. lol Very nice selection of art and poetry Laurita! TY for sharing.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Sep 23, ’08 Thanks for visiting, diana. I’m glad you enjoy the poetry.

deletereply sweetpotatoqueen wrote on Sep 23, ’08 Isn’t this poem familiar to all ?!! Well, for me it certainly is! It just goes to show that our ageless spirits within are trapped in these darn aging bodies! Thanks for the introduction to Judith’s poetry….it’s very real and appealing.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Sep 23, ’08 Thanks for visiting, sweetpotato. Yes, we’re trapped in these aging bodies, but the truth is, our aging bodies are not all that we are.

deletereply asolotraveler wrote on Sep 24, ’08 i like it – i identify with it (in a male view of course)

deletereply ladywolf11 wrote on Sep 24, ’08 hope everyone is having a good day hugssssssss

deletereply forgetmenot525 wrote on Sep 24, ’08 Oh I know that feeling, I too am far too young to be…………………………this age

deletereply johnthad wrote on Sep 24, ’08 Amen.

deletereply skeezicks1957 wrote on Sep 28, ’08 How did my oldest children get to be 27 when I still feel inside that I am? Of course outside I know I am not looking younger than I am.

deletereply pestep55 wrote on Sep 28, ’08 I can fully understand, yep too young inside /:-)

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