Maya Angelou

I am currently in my second week of two that I have to study for my final school exams before I can matriculate and officially finish school once and for all. I have been studying a lot of English Literature recently because there is so much of it, and I write it in a week and a half. We do a lot of poetry, which i actually really enjoy, and one of my favourite poems is one called 'Old Folks Laugh'. I know this is a bit of an odd thing to post, but I wanted to share it with you, just because I am going mad from all the studying, so any procrastination is appreciated, and also because maybe you'll like it as much as I do. 

The poem is by Maya Angelou, who is an American woman who is an author and poet. She really just writes so beautifully, and I really recommend that you go onto Pinterest or We Heart It or something and search some of her quotes, as they are so beautiful too! 

Old Folks Laugh- Maya Angelou

They have spend their
content of simpering
holding their lips this
and that way, winding
the lines between
their brows. Old folks
allow their bellies to jiggle like slow
tambourines.
The hollers
rise and spill
over any way they want. 
When old folks laugh, they free the world. 
They turn slowly, slyly knowing
the best and the worst
of remembering.
Saliva glistens in
the corners of their mouths,
their heads wobble on brittle necks, but
their laps
are filled with memories.
When old folks laugh, they consider the promise
of dear painless death, and generously
forgive life for happening
to them. 

Make of it what you will, but I really like it. I think that it is such a lovely reflection of old people and a rather quaint but effective way of rebelling against the stereotype that old people are grumpy and unhappy. So anyway, very random, but I just thought I'd share it cause I have just been really enjoying studying it. 

"I've learnt that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life". I've learned that sometimes life gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that everyday you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I learned that I still have a lot to learn. I  learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou