The Waning Years

Uncle Ben

The waning years left me lost tears

for brethren I have loved so long

Remember days of childish ways

 taste of life was sweet as a song

 

Winds that blew, as they always do

from youth I saw in my mirror

A pale gray face, lie in its place

 old folly of years grows clearer

 

I laughed and played, as youth had stayed

duty could wait, while time was free

Time was my friend, though in the end

pain overcame what life left me

 

Author's Note

So often is this truth that we all dread the knock of the door.
For life's time waits on none of us
it masters fate with earnest callous
Caring for none in favored mercy
helping not whom it shows malice
Let us not seek reward in the end for deeds we should do by conscience. Let us instead stive to be fondly remembered by those we love.

Reviews

[bluessadmood]

This is so lovely my friend,lovely and sad..but i think it should not be..or is it
years left so many tears,those days of childish ways
life taste both sweet and bitter,the winds always blew
and i always looked the mirror,see two faces young and aged
I laughed for youth made me look like a fool
thought life could wait and time was mine
a friend who always tricked me to the end
pain always was my friend..pain always stayed with fools
You dont know how I enjoyed this..this was so great writing
but i dont think its that bad..fools also enjoy their life..pity
lovely write..

[JE Falcon]

The seemly sad words tell a single tale, but to have "laughed and played, as youth had stayed
duty could wait, while time was free" is a far better fate than many who tasted none of that, but more of the pain. This is a wonderful tribute to the thoughts of many of us in our waning years, me included, and we do relate. --- Thanks.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you JE No one escapes life without paying

[M. J. Smith]

As I have crossed middle age, I realize my mortality. Three stints, joints not aging well. But I have made an uneasy peace with Death. Man is not meant to live forever, except perhaps through art.

[Tate Morgan]

I don’t think I want to live forever

[roarke]

This poem speaks clearly to me. I'm now in my sixties and it seems like "aging" is speeding up exponentially, both physically and mentally. lol How we appreciate the life we've lived is in how we now perceive it and how we pass our experiences on to others. I think you've captured this concept eloquently here Tate. Well said.

[Tate Morgan]

Roarke thank you I both admire and care about you thank you

[Droll Prole]

Time and tide wait for no man, it's almost not fair how fast we age and then have to leave.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you droll it is true time waits on no mam

[anne]

Tate Sir, what shall I say?
The every word connects,
leaves a deep impact and if feels
the caravan of memories is on
and let me dive and relive the time.

When I am in my phase to complete the college, I just want to go back to school again, with same books, friends, carefree, independent and loving time. But life has to move on and we are left with just memories (happy or sad they may be, but are precious and teachers in all forms.)

Tate Sir, you are simply amazing while delving in beautiful emotions.
I wish I keep reading. :)

[Tate Morgan]

Anne. You surely are one of the sweetest people here. You have your whole life ahead of you I'm sure you won't waste it there will be many more first experiences for you

[anne]

All your goodness Sir.
Surely I will try to find my reasons, and will always justify my responsibilities.

[Michael G. Smith]

And so it goes
All these years merely a loan
A mortgaged life, yet He to thank
For the memories, a nestegg in the bank

Always a pleasure to read your work.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Michael time of s relative when we are young we remember everything and time seems to pass slowly as we grow older that changes because mine doesn't remember everything once you've done something once I mine seems to just not the handle each time you do it again when you run out of new things to do in mind stops remembering your day today exercises hence the older you get the faster time seems to go because you have fewer memories

[Einstein Noodle]

funny how time warps mysteriously between youth and old age ;) your closing line kind of surprised me ..pain teaches us depth of empathy and compassion or bitterness and anger ... and physical pain of disease can be our lot in those waning years ... i hope your Grandpa did not have to suffer :{ just yesterday as i left the cabin i flashed on the thought "oh, i better call my mom" the way i did when she was alive ... it was such a surprise as i was thinking about getting in the car to take the dog for a walk ... and it was refreshing because it came to me in that past reality .. funny how the mind, body, spirit do conspire .. nice tribute sir .. as always strong ebb and flow to your poetry
E.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Gene my grandfather had an enlarged heart diabeties he died in the hospital a day after suffering a stroke but he was near blessed no from diabeties

[Einstein Noodle]

:( ................

[Najam Us Saher]

This is so heart touching. I liked every line in this poem. Truly well written.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you so much Najam

[Najam Us Saher]

You're welcome

[M.A.Rathore]

This is a fine example of internal rhyme-scheme that makes this full of music. As usual you employ the life long past experiences and those of your carefee days with less time to enjoy rather performing duty-bounding taaks. Now time provides you much more opportunity to look closely those of your lovely days spent at childhood and the struggling youth that was as you say "a plale grey face lie in place".And at this time when you are at your autumnal days remembering in your free days...
Nice poetry I like it all respects viz matter and manner....Have a nice time! Hope your blessings...

[Tate Morgan]

M.A. thank you you have successfully dissected this poem in its entirety .It is constructed as a piece of music would be. And like music has its own melody

[M.A.Rathore]

Yes pf course it has a sweet music..Tete

[timthy]

great piece Tate. As always you drag the reader in with raw emotion and make them feel as if they are fondly acquainted with the subjects of your writes. You are truly a one of a kind...And the song...the song..,powerful and heartfelt.