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PatAngel
Member

since 2004-04-05

Posts 451
California

0 posted 2004-07-28 01:13 AM

Old Man's Lament

The old man lay huddled in tattered clothes,
no blanket to warm him when the cold wind blows.
Eyes filled with sadness, pain etched on his face,
memories that haunt him of a faraway place.
Only ruins remain of a home he once knew,
torn usunder by flames as nature's fury grew.
Ligthening bolts scattered across darkened sky,
as he heard his family let out a deafening cry.
Buried beneath soil he tilled with his hands,
stand two lonely graves on dark barren lands.
Passerbys see him, yet walk slowly away,
he's not even worth their time of day.
Tears silently fall on dirt-streaked face,
wondering what happened to the human race.
Where is compassion, hope and love,
could it be it's only from heaven above?
Then one day a child sat down by his side,
covered the old man with a jacket he had.
From that moment on, a smile touched his face,
for this old man felt happy and no longer sad.
Heaven smiled down on this poor lonely soul,
for a young caring child had made him feel whole.

Joyce Johnson

Member Rara Avis

since 2001-03-10

Posts 9912
Washington State

1 posted 2004-07-28 02:29 AM

Sad and uplifting. Joyce

junemac
Senior Member

since 2003-04-24

Posts 1005
uk

2 posted 2004-07-28 04:08 AM

Patricia this is so very emotional to read. I always cry at weepy films/ movies and this did the same to me. A beautiful story and I liked the ending very much.
would love to see a follow up

Hugs June x

Isobel
Senior Member

since 2004-01-17

Posts 529
Qld, Australia

3 posted 2004-07-28 04:22 AM

Dear Patricia

Such a lovely, touching poem.

Love Isobel ox

PatAngel
Member

since 2004-04-05

Posts 451
California

4 posted 2004-07-28 09:05 AM

Thank you Joyce, June, and Isobel! I've often wondered how some of the old people on skid row end up huddled on the streets with nothing but newspapers or a blanket to keep them warm. Did some of them come from a loving family, but tragedy struck and there was nowhere else to go? When I started writing the poem, I wanted it to have a happy ending. What better way than to have a child gift the old man with his compassion.

Love,
Patricia

'When you find a dream within your heart, don't ever let it go.
For dreams are the tiny seeds from which tomorrow grows.'

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