Gems of Wisdom

“The anthology by AgeSong abounds with playful poems of times well lived! It’s a fine thing to read the poem stories that sing of love songs along with hardship from people who are now in their seventies and eighties, even nineties. The humor will delight you. You may wonder what you’ll be saying at that age!!”

Janell Moon, Poet Laureate of Emeryville for 2011-2012
Author of Salt and Paper: 65 Candles

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Gems of Wisdom is a celebration of eldership and the wisdom that accompanies life experiences. Elders throughout California submitted prose and poetry to inspire readers to reflect and embrace their own creativity.

A portion of the proceeds from Gems of Wisdom will help AgeSong Institute fund its Expressive Arts Programs throughout the Bay Area.

The goal of the Expressive Art Programs is to combine creative expressions such as writing, painting, arts and crafts, dance, music, and sculpture with psychotherapy and life coaching.

We would like to congratulate the following Elders of the winning entries.

Reflections of Quiet AgeSong Resident Poetry Group at Lakeside Park: Claire, Sandra, Thelma, Francis, Judy, Ed, and Bill
These Are A Few of Our Favorite Things AgeSong Lakeside Park Residents: Claire, Francis, Jaysing, Courtney, Jean, Elise, and Bill
A Poem on my Birthday Amparo Molo-Carreon
Afternoon of Our Lives Angelica Chiong
Seniors Arlinda Smith
A Brass Ring for Catching Barbara Davis
Meditation Beth Spence
A Young Man’s Prayer Betty Goren
Rendezvous Betty Lee Kesten
Bi-Coastal Sun Showers Carol M. Navratil
Mothers Charles Harris
Thanks Charles Johnston
The Well Chrystal Daniels
Looking At a Leaf Claire Rothenberg
Chit-Chat Clayton McKinnon
Eldership Constance Hunt
“Imagination” Constance and Marsha
Someone Tell the Children Debra Durnell
A Mother’s Love Dee Dee Brinkman
These I love Deena Andrews
Well Wishes Edward Chen
June 23rd, 1985 Elizabeth K. Bugental †
Old Couples: For Louise, Jean, John and Adele, Elizabeth and John Elizabeth K. Bugental †
Covert Tree-Covered Seniority Emily Hartley
Roaming in the Gloaming Emily Winfree
Silver Haired Love Emma Murray
The Game is Up Erna Hennessy
Thoughts Fe P. Garcia
Josephina Flora Alvarado
Home of the Artichoke Frances (Fran) Nuelle
In the Afterlife Genya Ehrlich
Happy Genya Ehrlich
South Pacific George Siemon
The Street of My Childhood Gladys Rossi
My Favorites Gloria Gagnon
The Gay Nineties Guido Protti
Caregivers H. Elizabeth Kibby
Reverie and Twilight Heide Pilc
All I Know of Love Helen Crowner
Flowers Now Helen J. Wamhoff
He’s My Best Friend Hildy Pehrson
Mirror Image Irene Favreau
Years Jane Trask Rosen
To My Husband – The Other Half of Me Janette Roberts
Wisdom From on High Jeanne Schoch
For Your Consideration Jerry Sexton
The Color of Gold Jewelle Taylor Gibbs
Choices Joy Lucadello Luster
Empowered Joyce Stone
Grandma’s House June Swift
Mother-of-Pearl Kate Campbell
Dementia’s Deal Kim Fowler
Ride Home Kristina Yates
Recognition: A Diamond and a Pearl LaJuanah Lunceford
How to Nurture a Joyful Heart Laurel Zien
The Lake at Daybreak Lewis (Lew) Desch
A Wannabe Tree Lili Artel
Determination Lillian Kalibjian
Yesterday’s Gone Lillian Reynolds
On Aging [A Triolet] Louise M. Mangini
Search of Serenity Maimie Gimble
I Cried Manuel Perry
Musical Meanderings Marian Goldeen
A Mother’s Lament Marie Basinger
Dear Madeleine Marilyn Dumesnil
Untitled Marsha Campbell
Learning to Love Yourself Martin Driscoll
Free At Last Michael Wise
Goodbye Sunshine (My Pet Cat Friend) Nancy Arena
Reflection Nancy Arena
‘Dewdrop’ Nina Komiakoff Smith
We Thought We Were Younger Norma MacDonald
Foot Fetish Patricia Jones
The Harvest Paul R. Larson
Identity Crisis Phylis Ann Warady
Restringing Life Rosalyn Brock
Respect Samuel Ansah Asare
The Essence of Innocence Shirley Drexler
Disappearing Susan Lipsky
Blood Doesn’t Define Family Susan Wilson
If You Had Been There Tania Selden
Missing Vienna Tom Greening
A Song To Remember Tom Roberts
Untitled Tom Roberts
Work Residents of Pinole Senior Village: Vera French, Olivia Simms and Paul McNees
Strawberry Tree in the Courtyard Veronica Espada
Outdoors Journey Virginia Larson
What’s In a Name? Wallace Trigg