The Evening Has Arrived

AQUI NO HAY VIEJOS SOLO NOS LLEGO LA TARDE
The You Tube video of this poem is worth watching.
This moving poem for elderly adults is recited by the vivacious 102-year-old lady: María Cristina Camilo. Dominican actress and broadcaster (b. 12.25.1918)

Translated from the Spanish by Brian Maurer

Here there are no old ones;
It’s only that the evening has arrived for us:

An evening weighted with experience—
Experience to offer advice.
Here there are no old ones;
It’s only that the evening has arrived for us.
Old is the sea,
And it rises up like a giant;
Old is the sun,
And it warms us.
Old is the moon,
And it enlightens us;
Old is the earth,
And it gives us life.
Love is old,
And it nourishes us.
So here there are no old ones;
It’s only that the evening has arrived for us.
We are beings weighted with wisdom;
Graduates of the university of life and time that was given to us in our postgraduate years.
We climbed the tree of life,
And there we picked the best fruit:
Our children,
Those we cared for with patience;
And today they returned with patience and love.
So here there are no old ones;
It’s only that for us evening has arrived.
Young person, you who listen to me,
As you walk the path of your life,
If you should encounter an old one Twisted,
Shuffling slowly along,
With white hair and wrinkled skin,
And trembling hands,
Don’t ignore them;
Assist them, protect them,
Offer a friendly hand,
And reflect that tomorrow —
Hear my words —
Tomorrow 
The evening will one day come
For you as well.

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About David Elpern

The Online Journal of Community and Person-Centered Dermatology (OJCPCD) is a free, full text, open-access, online publication that addresses all aspects of skin disease that concern patients, their families, and practitioners. ​It was founded in 2012 by Dr. David J. Elpern, M.D. in Williamstown, MA. with technical help from Inez Tan.

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