✨The Prize of Age

Age is the advent of life,  

A rite of passage, precious and bright.  

It strengthens the future, marks the start.  

A centenary journey, a map to the heart.

Without age, life is fleeting,  

Without life, age is hollow, repeating.  

And now, Noble One, your milestone begins—  

A celebration of love, of laughter, of kin.

A hundred candles flicker with grace,  

More precious than silver, gold, or lace.  

Their flames bring light, joy, and hope to all—  

A beacon of wisdom, standing tall.

A hundred layers of cake, a sweet delight,  

Shared with loved ones, hearts alight.  

A hundred chairs, a feast to behold.  

A celebration of stories, both young and old.

Noble One, we honor you with pride,  

A carpet of red, joy amplified.  

Your footsteps sparkle with cheer and glow!  

A moment of laughter, a memory to stow.

Birdsong echoes through the grove,  

Melodies of memory, harmony, and love.  

You are a centenarian, rare and wise,  

With youthful eyes and a heart that flies.

Gray hairs like quartz, a treasure to see,  

Symbols of strength, of legacy.  

You sit in twilight, noble and whole!  

A soul of silver, a radiant goal.

Under the stars, we gather in grace,  

Sagittarius smiles upon this space.  

Moons of planets commemorate this day,  

In a tent of joy where love finds its way.

Your hundred years shine like moonlight bold,  

A mystery, a story to be told.  

A reflection of time, a promise so true—  

A blessing from above, shining through.

We honor you, Noble One, so dear,  

A life well-lived, a journey clear.  

May your legacy echo a thousand years on—  

Happy centenary.  

Your prize is won.

✍️Author’s Note

I wrote The Prize of Age in 2021, inspired by my deep admiration for people who reach 100 years of age. There’s something profoundly beautiful about seeing someone cross that milestone—a century of stories, wisdom, laughter, and love.

This poem is my way of celebrating that journey. It’s not just about age—it’s about legacy. About the joy of living long enough to see generations bloom. About the sparkle in the eyes of someone who’s seen the world change and still carries hope.

To every centenarian, known or unknown, this is for you. And to everyone who reads it, may it remind you to cherish the elders around you. Their lives are poems in motion.

— Chrissaint Trivett.