Elderly Woman's Poem About Wrinkles And Beauty Will Change The Way You View Ageing, Forever

92-Year-Old Pens Poem About Wrinkles, Melts Hearts Everywhere

An elderly woman's poem about getting older has captured the hearts of thousands.

The beautifully written verse called 'The Gift Wrap & The Jewel' comes from 92-year-old Wanda Goines.

She says that a person's appearance and the way they look as they age is just their "gift wrap", and it's the "jewel" inside that really counts.

In the video above, Wanda recounts her poem and, towards the end when she talks about facing death, her voice wavers and she begins to get teary eyed.

The clip was uploaded to Facebook by Goines' carer, Kathryn Clausnitzer Wilson. It has since been viewed more than 4.5 million times.

Wilson describes Wanda in the post as "the precious lady I am honoured to care for".

The 92-year-old's son David Goines told The Huffington Post that their family was thrilled the video had gone viral and Wanda's poem had been shared.

He said: "She is not long for this earth, and it delights her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, as well as all those who know her and love her, that she is able to make a contribution to the world, even as she is leaving it."

Here's the poem in all of its glory. If you can sit through the video without crying then you're doing better than us.

I looked in the mirror, and what did I see?

But a little old lady, peering back at me.

With bags and sags and wrinkles, and wispy white hair

And I asked my reflection, how did you get there?

You once were straight and vigorous, and now you're stooped and weak

When I tried so hard to stop you, from becoming an antique.

My reflection's eyes twinkled, and she solemnly replied

You're looking at the gift wrap and not the jewel inside.

A living gem and precious, of unimagined worth

Unique and true, the real you, the only you on earth.

The years that spoil your gift wrap, with other things more cruel

Should purify, and strengthen, and polish up that jewel.

So focus your attention on the inside, not the out

On being kinder, wiser, more content and more devout.

Then, when your gift wrap's tipped away, your jewel will be set free

To radiate God's glory, throughout eternity.

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