Ronnie McGinn's Poetry Page

Back in Ireland old people can travel free on buses and there are still some well bred young people who proudly give up their seat on a bus to a senior citizen. Not an easy subject with which to approach a poem but 12-year-old Ciara Murphy of Ballincollig in County Cork shows us she has the ability and the courage to take on such a task. Two years ago Ciara impressed everyone with her poem "My Ideal World", this week she gives a clear indication that she has improved with age. Keats said "If poetry comes not naturally as leaves to a tree, it had better not come at all...." Well Ciara would certainly have made quite a positive impact on Keats!

As I read the poem for the third or fourth time a wry smile crosses my mind and for some reason I feel like saying "Thank you Ciara for writing this poem for me"

When I Get Old

When I get old I don't want a free bus pass
To get on a bus where people stand so I can sit down,
I will never use anti-ageing cream
To cover up wrinkles where I used to frown.

When I get old I won't use any hair dye
To hide my 'little' bit of grey.
I will never knit clothes for my grandkids,
If I did, they would hate them anyway.

When I get old I will still ride my bike,
And ring the bell as I fly down the street.
I will show off my grey hair and wrinkles,
Because they will be what makes me complete.

When I get old I don't want any reminders
Of how old I actually am now,
And whenever I celebrate my birthday,
I'll write "12 today" across my brow.

© Ciara Murphy