Old Man

Where grass and bending flowers Grew once like the weeds The field empty and barren For lack of sowing seeds

 

The old gray man alone now

attends to his dusty fields

Watering the emptiness

where the land no longer yields

______________________________

He wove his web of fashions

from the tears his pains had sprung

Where once he sang of starlight

back when both their hearts were young

______________________________

Then came the winds a-calling

turned to run a-hoping sure

To reach where she was lying

 sharing pains they'd both endure

_____________________________

The gales did blow around him

precious memories, he'd miss

Drops would fall upon his lips

those that hers would never kiss

______________________________

Where grass and bending flowers 

grew together like the weeds

Lie meadows all but barren

for the lack of sowing seeds

______________________________

The blushing, blowing Poppies

that once grew all around near

Fill the fields with memories

of the love he once lost here

______________________________

Each time he treads on his land

howling, sow-west winds a-blow

Not belonging, feels the longing

 mercy only God may know

Author's Note

I knew a man like this once. His life all but lived. He patiently waited for the end.Which wasn't long in coming. Children give us the legacy that makes the bitterness of our short life more tolerable

Reviews

[Devanshu Rajput]

This is one of the finest piece of poetry that, that I ever came across on this earth. What, flabbergasts me is not only the structure, but the story, that touches my heart.

This masterpiece is like nothing. Your note, deeply moved me. Indeed, kindness and humanity is something that can be felt, by everyone. In a nutshell,

"Compassion is an universal language''

Thanks, for bringing to fore this, piece.

Devanshu

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Dev I thought i had responded to this from you I see i havent.

[Devanshu Rajput]

I'm glad you responded late, because this way, I got to read your piece again.

You're welcome. Take care.

Devanshu

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you young man

[Lucy Kennedy]

AAaww :(

[Susanna F]

That is so sad and beautiful! I love it.

[?]

Tate,
This is so touching and heartfelt and yes captivating. Just simply beautifully written. Love the pic and the song. They all work so well together. You always seem to do that along with capturing my heart in your writings. Well done

[roy mccarthy]

you do it tate......skeeter davis said it.....
i pull my bread out and wonder where the butter went...
i guess you can call it pent up anger... .
your rhymes flow like a crystal spring.....
was that corny?

[Andy Ruffett]

I like this poem. It shows complete hopelessness and this man is definitely a "Nowhere Man." You feel sorry for him from the beginning to the end. I would believe such men exist. It must have been painful to know one. Sometimes the ones you want to help can't be helped. They can only help themselves.

[SoulCrusader (Yas)]

Beautiful read :)

[Lily Mae]

There are to many who live this life out.. I mean unless they are truly content in being that way... I think we all have come across and older person just like this in life at one time or another.. and the picture you chose is unbelievable..xx Great write Tate...xx

[EMF]

Wonderfully complexed poem. On the surface, straightfowraward and simple, but looking beneath the well crafted words are images and ideas that first ask you to think, then force you to. Wonderful read, and it was a shame when it came to an end

[George Love]

Simple, very good description of Solitude. Nice work!

[Color of the Iris]

A very, very wonderful piece! Solitude, is a demon we all must fight. But I was quite impressed, please, keep the art coming...!