OLD MAN AND HIS MEMORIES

An old man who has wise words for one to reflect upon

 

OLD MAN AND HIS MEMORIES

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It’s early Friday morning

He sees an eagle on the fly

Then the sun starts to break

The darken moonless sky.

.

There is peace and tranquility

That surrounds his mortal soul.

He drifts back to a different time,

His memories starting to unfold.

.

Life has been good to him

As he traveled these 80 years.

Though some of the memories

Have brought him many tears.

.

His eyes are not so sharp now

As they were in by gone times.

Why does it have to be?

Growing old seems such a crime!

.

The past is the present now,

As the present is not so good.

Wonders if the Lord really knew,

If old age he understood.

.

He may not remember yesterday,

The past he remembers well.

Come sit along side of him.

There's many stories he can tell.

.

Can remember his first kiss

And the day he took his wife.

Remembers to the minute

The day the Lord took her life.

.

Still tries to understand

Why He left him all alone.

Could it not be what they say,

Maybe He has a heart of stone?

.

Is that why He gave us a memory?

That good and bad times when recalled.

Eases the pain of growing old

To make it seem not so bad at all?

.

He turns his head to look at me

His eyes, now a cloudy shade of blue.

“I have not much more time here,

One thing I would like for you to do”

"Tell your wife

Tell your children too.

Tell them that you love them

Even when they make you blue.”

.

For someday you may sit here

Your future in the past,

Nothing but your memories,

That’s the only thing that lasts.

.

Make your memories bring

Love into your heart.

It’s like being born again,

Not the end, but a brand new start!

 

tk

Author's Note

all comments welcomed

Reviews

[Kat Collins]

Brought tears to my eyes...reminds me of my Nana who is struggling right now with aging, failing health, and being old. There are many days I see tears in her eyes - losing her husband, two sons, friends, siblings, health, life - she's outlived it all. Wishes she hadn't and God had taken her first. Yet, she's terrified of dying, she fights it tooth and nail, but each day she is reminded of all that has left. Its quite the battle, let go or fight....

[light and ashes]

Truly a wonderful poem

[Ruth]

This is so wonderful love...a warming piece and emotive too....we all so often forget that memories shall linger...good or bad! This touched me Donald :) xx

[WordShifter]

You know I like all that you write, it's amazing the way you weave a tapestry of words into a great poem. Thanks for sharing with your writings. Aloha, Ginger

[Raven Starhawk]

Exquisite wisdom locked within every well penned word.

[Rene Velez]

The Trail of wisdom of ones life, great words.

[Donna Lorenz]

Such a descerning understanding of ageing. We all get there sometime if we are lucky. Beautiful writing!

[Kenneth The Poet]

Simply stunning. You talk about this theme with ease and grace.