In this poem, Angelou reflects on the physical and mental changes that come with aging. She celebrates the wisdom and experience that come with age, but also acknowledges the sadness and loss that can accompany it. She emphasizes the importance of continuing to live life to its fullest, no matter one’s age.
Maya Angelou’s poem On Aging describes how she feels about being an older person. Being older shouldn’t make it easier to feel inferior or isolated. “On Aging,” shows us how society has been either neglecting or treating elderly people as too fragile to do it all themselves. This poem was set off by Maya Angelou’s tone.
Maya, in the poem, compares herself with a bag that sits on a shelf. One way to make a connection is by looking at the older woman alone. Or something that we’ve forgotten and put up. We quickly learn that she does not want us to pretend to be interested or feel sorry or guilty for her. She insists that we should not interrupt her thinking. Hold! Stop! Hold on! Stop your sympathy!Understanding if you got it,Otherwise I’ll do without it! (5-8). As the poet gets older, certain things become more difficult. We need to understand her wishes. The rocking seat is more than a simple chair. The poet does not want to be in a nursing facility or be restricted to a wheelchair and cannot continue to live her life the way she has lived. Even if you stumble or are walking slowly, the poet wants you to realize that it is not from laziness. The poet hopes to show that even though someone has left, it doesn’t necessarily mean they have gone forever. Even though she has changed in appearance and body functions, the poet still remains the same person that she was when she was younger. This piece serves as a reminder that older members of society, such as family members and grandparents, will continue to age. They might see a physical change in their appearance with “a little less hair, less chin/ a lot less wind” (18-19). Although they are able to recognize themselves as normal people, their emotional state is not affected. They don’t want you to feel sorry or embarrassed for them. It is important to realize that while things may take them longer to complete, they still want to be free to do the things they want. The poet will then tell us that she is happy to be alive, even as she is getting older. The poet is not obliged to talk to us out of sympathy. The poet may be thinking about herself, looking back at her past and examining her own thoughts. The poet’s only desire is to understand and feel compassion.
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