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..

[Jazique]

Cool, thank you for the information on the poetry lines, they really dont teach poetry much at my school. Anyways I enjoyed the poem as took on the view of a person looking back on the years befor and this new writing Im doing just had someone doing that. Overall though well done with the wording sequence as well the flow.

[A Soap Mess Stories]

Interesting! I love to learn about the different kinds of poetry. :-)

[Veronica Chandler]

Oh my goodness I want to meet the man in the picture; what beautifully soulful eyes he has... I just couldn't stop staring into his face. I stared at the page so long I listened to the song no less than 7 times. I cannot begin to express the depth of my gratitude for your counsel on this piece. I know nothing about writing except that I can hardly stop myself from doing it. I suspect were my hands tied behind my back I would still be writing with my minds quill on the tablet of my spirit. But this tiny bit of counsel will most likely be invaluable to my own growth as a poet. Blessings, your kindness is not lost on me.

[Manpreet]

I've been away for a while and and your work got me back into with a spark. As usual your work is amazing your word use is excellent and it is not jusr simply reading pleasure but we get to learn a lot here. Thanks for sharing Tate I missed your poems while I was away!!!

[Marc Marlon Villaflor]

Sweet and vibrant poem love every words of it. thanks for sharing.

[The Nameless]

Yes, aging is quite sad.
"Time was my friend" - children always want to grow up, don't they?
Though I will never forget the woman who said "I have wrinkles that remind me of thousands of happy days in the sun. My arms and hands are weak because I have made so many things with them."
And then the unforgettable quote - "I'd rather face the end of my life with a half broken body, shouting "Woo hoo! What a ride!" than face it with a perfectly preserved body.

[written in blood]

another creative piece of work. This poem brought two different emotions, one of sadness for the youth is a thing of the past then the emotion of beauty because for every line on his face or ever grey hair, there is a story behind it.. I love the elderly because of the life experience they bring to the youth!!
beautiful work Tate!!

[Mockingbird]

i guess when we get to be in really old age we feel we're just waiting for the knock. their point of view is that coming from a person who's lived lifetimes. it's sad.

[Dayran]

A realization at an older age that brings a new perspective to the experiences of youth.

[Valentine]

Love the old mans picture..and the write...I see what waning years can do as I lose family members and it hurts, especailly when so many people live so much longer in years.. than my family members and now my husband so ill..Kathie