Дэвид Лоуренс. Красивая старость

Beautiful Old Age 

It ought to be lovely to be old 
to be full of the peace 
that comes of experience 
and wrinkled ripe 
fulfillment. 

The wrinkled smile of completeness 
that follows a life lived undaunted 
and unsoured with accepted lies
they would ripen like apples, 
and be scented like Poppins 
in their old age. 

Soothing, old people should be 
like apples when one is tired 
of love. 
Fragrant like yellowing leaves 
and dim with the soft stillness 
and satisfaction of autumn. 

And a girl should say:
It must be wonderful to live
and grow old.
Look at my mother, how rich
and still she is. 

And a young man should think:
By Jove my father has faced 
all weathers, but it's been a life.