What If I Grow Old and Gray
"What If I Grow Old and Gray" by Fannie Stearns Davis is a reflective poem that contemplates the inevitability of aging and the loss of youthful vitality. The speaker, once vibrant and full of life, anticipates a future where physical beauty and social connections may fade. Despite this, the speaker rejects pity and embraces the journey toward the unknown with dignity and freedom. The poem emphasizes a life lived with joy and fearlessness, suggesting that even in the face of aging and eventual death, there is a continuation of gladness and acceptance. The speaker's resolve to remain proud and unpitied underscores a defiant acceptance of life's natural progression.
By Fannie Stearns Davis · First published 1904 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Philosophical · 153 words
First lines
What if I grow old and gray Who was once so gallant-gay?
When my goodliness shall pass As the flower of the grass; When there shall be none to claim Friendship in my youth's dear name; When my soul that leapt like fire Limps, too dreary for desire; When the door of Silence stands Open to my fumbling hands; -- Though I almost make you cry, (You, still young and passing by,) Leave me proud and high and free. Never dare to pity me!
For I make my journeying Far from every sorry thing. I have lived too glad to fear Any hurt or horror here; And I shall be glad once more When the Silence swings its door, And I enter in, and see. -- Oh, you must not pity me!
What this Textopian page supports
What If I Grow Old and Gray is listed on Textopian as a poem by Fannie Stearns Davis, dated 1904 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Fannie Stearns Davis
- Date: 1904 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Philosophical, Existential, Inspirational
- Length: 153 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for What If I Grow Old and Gray by Fannie Stearns Davis
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is composed in verse with a structured rhyme and meter, making it fundamentally poetic.
- Lyric Poetry — It expresses personal emotions and introspection about aging, characteristic of lyric form.
- Philosophical — It explores deeper questions about mortality and the nature of self, engaging with philosophical themes.
- Existential — It reflects on the human condition and the inevitable process of aging, aligning with existential concerns.
Tags
aging · women's health · self-improvement · empowerment · beauty · maturity · wisdom · self-care · ageism · lifestyle · confidence · inner strength