The Stranger

The train was gone, and then inside, I saw
the old one standing, looking back at me
and out of pity I returned his gaze--
there was an urgency that held me fast.
It seemed that I could hear his  thoughts that day,
"Come, stand with me beside the well of years.
that I may bear to look at them. They feed
off memories and wisdom second-hand;
their refuse lies upon my aged  mind,
and they are all I have.

"So, come, and we shall build ourselves a God
and kneel before Him, gazing at the truth."

 

We stood inside that station sealed from time,
and then I looked for  madness in his eyes
and he in mine,  until I realized
it was a full-length mirror that I viewed.

 "Come look with me, into the well of years, "
he said...
and turned,
and walked away,
              ~

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

There is compassion and introspection in this poem. To repect one's elders...to learn from them and drink in the wisdom of the years....is unfortunately a lost art in this country. The ending of this poem made me think you realize you are entering the last chapters of your life. Actually, there is a lot of freedom in this last chapter. We can do things we dared not when we were young. The old man walks away from you at the end...leaving this reader to ponder if he has passed away making you next in line. Your poetry is multi-layered, Dean. It is a joy to read. Lydi**

[Dean]

Thanks, Lydia. That layering is something that I strive for.

[The Verse: A Poetry Jou..]

when we look into a mirror we first find flaws, but refuse reality in its entirety. Perhaps we can find good in reality, when we allow ourselves to peek into who we really are. This is high level poesy, thank you for sharing such amazing work.

[Dean]

Thank you, sir

[Ravyne Hawke]

I had amnesia for a while when I was a child and since then I have never recognized myself in the mirror.. the "I" that I perceive is not who I see when I look at myself.. perhaps when I am older I will gain some recognition.. I got this sense from your poem of recognizing self and realizing you really are older than you thought.. wonderful, thought-provoking poem.

[Dean]

not JUST older! I think all of us do not see ourselves often as we really are.

[Ravyne Hawke]

yes, I know that is true of me.. I don't feel like I am in my late 40s but when I look in the mirror, boy does it show.. lol.. thanks Dean

[Dean]

but less than mine! :-)

[Marie]

Sometimes a reflection remindsyou of the years...and there's nothing you can do but walk away...

You can't escape them though...

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Beautiful imagery in this one, Dean, and quite the powerful message. I recently wrote a piece "Waiting For a Train", that dealt with something similar from my perspective, and this piece reminds me of what I wrote...only yours was much more introspective :) I love the idea of the man realizing that he is looking at himself in the mirror, because I think we all do this...we see ourselves as we percieve ourselves rather than what the world views--sometimes this is a good thing, sometimes bad. A stark and thought provoking read this morning...thank you.

[Dean]

Exactly, Sarah! Thanks.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Always a pleasure, my friend!

[Neville]

A nice write Dean & with an unexpected but very enjoyable twist. N

[Dean]

Thank you!

[Neville]

Pleasure, N