Today’s poem

AGE BEFORE BEAUTY

She was lonely and so bored She felt she’d like some fun, So she went on to a

dating site No sooner thought than done. Within an hour or so The replies came

back aplenty, She sifted through them all Then narrowed them to 20. Finally she picked just one As his picture caught

her eye, Someone of near 40 A tall, good-looking guy. She sent a snap of years ago He replied he longed to

see her, And so they texted back

and forth With each message

getting keener. Plans were made to meet In a pub somewhere in town

He said he’d wear a tie of red She would wear a dress

of brown. She glanced around the pub Just one man wore a tie

of red, But he was over 65 With a bald and shiny head. ‘Excuse me,’ the old

man said. ‘I wonder if you could sit

by me? There’s an offer of free beer

for two If we are both an OAP ‘And you seem to be

waiting, too Has a friend let you down? From the back I thought my

date was you As you were wearing brown. ‘But when I saw your face I realised I was wrong My date was in her 40s And really much too young.’

She had nothing else to do So she sat down for the drink And relaxing with a beer Gave her time to think. ‘I’m pleased we met

tonight,’ he said ‘And let’s be honest, at

this stage I’m sure we have more

in common With those of our own age.’ At first she felt quite foolish But they chatted like

old friends, She found she really

liked him And they made plans to

meet again. Is there a moral to this story? Well, more a question to tell

the truth. Is it better to age gracefully Or strive to keep

one’s youth?

Janet Byrne, Harrow, Middx.