Old Man

His eyes are ancient orbs of light

that have sailed life’s stormiest seas

whose essence burns forever bright

within the shade of seasoned trees.

His skin is parched of mortal dew,

a wrinkled map of time and place

of sorrow, joy, and pleasures too.

A master artist sketched his face.

The tarnished silver of his hair

is the coin of dissolving years

spent on dreams and hopeful prayer

in the well of piteous tears.

His lips have cursed our gentle God

from the source out of which it streams

and damned the Christ-like ruler’s rod

for the sundering of his dreams.

But all in all, he has his wings.

He continues to fly to sea

and soar above disastrous things

that seem impossible to me.

His strength is found both night and day

in the pulse of every breath

on lips that kiss and kissing lay

until they kiss the lips of death.

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

This reminds me of Santiago from "The Old Man and the Sea". Very nice writing.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you. When I clicked to read the review, I didn't expect this to be the poem reviewed. I just found the picture so striking that it inspired the poem. Thank you for reading and for reviewing.

[Donald Meikle]

The poetry is more than equal to the challenge of the photo

[ANTO]

Like a fine sculptor - you re-create the old man in my mind like a granite sentinel of the sea with a raging tide for blood and the skies above for eyes.
"His lips have cursed our gentle God..." and yet they are the lips in every prayer.

Classic writing Linda Marie - a pleasure to experience.

[Rick Puetter]

Dear Linda Marie,

A haunting poem with a great story. One we can all relate to at some level. And there are some beautiful phrases. The second stanza is my favorite.

A nice piece of work.

Best regards,

Rick

[Perkele.7885]

I don't know if I am looking into the eyes of a Southern European fisherman type or a Mexican/Central American fisherman type. I think I will choose Central American. Great poem / great color!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

really love this poem.

it's like an older person looking in the mirror and seeing him or herself in the now...but also seeing the person who was a child, an adolescent, a young adult and a maturing individual in mid-life...these are all there in the reflection, just as we can look into the eyes of the ancient and see the entire life's experience in those wise orbs.