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..

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Another superbly constructed poem in a classical technical sense. And so full of feeling and meaning. Lovely Tate.

[N!LoC]

wow technical beauty ...

[Baby Ricochet]

Tate you set the bar

[Kaylor Mason]

Funny . . . I was just pondering these same truths when I read this . . . this is a really good poem

[.]

Wow, this was a deep reflective poem. Great job--as always--Tate

[SimpleMind]

Wow! Superb!
This reminds me that I don't have forever in this world. I may be young, but for sure after few blinks with my eyes I'm gonna see a wrinkled face in the mirror... Thanks, now I know what to do :)

[redflutterby]

It would be a sad life if we didn't have the memories to sustain us during our final years. Remember though we don't know the number of our days....so live while you can in every way. We must resist the trap of focusing too much on what we've lost and embrace what we have. Great poem Tate... love your work!

[quinfinn]

you are preaching to the choir here Tate. i used to fear growing old and death...as it so happens, i am pleased with who and what i am and will smile at death when he arrives to take me on that last walk, i may even take his hand and increase the pace. wonderful write.

[Tate Morgan]

I want to go out with my boots on facing the setting sun

[quinfinn]

i want to go out during the throes of ecstasy...that way i won't know whether i'm coming or going!

[Enid Blake]

What lies in store...?
When I was child I percieved the age I currently am as really 'old'. Never really think you'll be there. I need to change the gatepost lol

[Tate Morgan]

when i was 15 everyone over 30 was an idiot .The older i got the smarter they seemed and the dumber I felt lol

[lee von cleef]

Pain, powerful river to swim the current against,a blast to let it buoy, bob you up ,paddle your boat into its eddy's,spin in the rapids ,laugh roll Eskimo leaning way back then cracking upright fresh with it dripping, pain winning over it a passion, every day to live life.