Old Painter at the beach boardwalk.

We need to listen to the old ones. Can enlighten the mind and heart.

  




















 Old painter on the beach boardwalk
 
Old man sat alone.
He was painting a picture of a woman.
She was from another time.
 
We sat in silence till he finally spoke to me.
He whispered "Her name was Jennifer.
A homecoming queen. "
 
"She was a beauty then,
that lays in my dreams still".
 
He told me he was eighty.
The brush was his only remaining friend.
 
I asked him for a story?
He would give me more.
 
His sad eyes looked to the sky.
He told me. "The sun always rises from the east.
Fall into west.
 
Life is like the sun and the wind.
It seems we should know how life should be.
But like the wind we change direction."
 
He spoke of war.
How friends who never came home.
Were left in lonely graves in Europe.
He remembered kissing the ground.
When he landed at the New York airport.
 
He gave me a smile.
With sad brown eyes.
Told me.
 
"You will rise and fall asleep each day.
Wars will come and go.
 
We need to look beyond the terrible things.
You must  see the beauty around you.
 
Love is the kindest gift.
 It is given from the heart.
 
Love is fair,
You must give more sometimes or less.
 
I wish to said I love you more.
Gave more kisses and love to friends and family.
 
I wished to have complained less and celebrate living more.
 
Old friends ride in my memory still.
The laughter and craziness of youth.
 
I wish to thank my friends for allowing me to know them."
 
I asked the man was it worth it?
 
The old man touched his painting.
Told me. " Friends and lovers had create more pleasure than pain.
 
I would stand my ground again . 
Go to war  for the freedoms I have.
 
Look beyond self-pity.
Life is for the warrior who is not afraid to love or fight.
 
He whisper take no chances and there isn't joy to be touched. "
 
I thanked him.
I  visit him often till one day he was never came back.
I hope he found his friends and family.
 
I watch the sun fall into the sea.
I  thank the spirit of life and death for another day to celebrate being alive..
 
                                  Coyote
                              1992
  

Author's Note

A old poem. The coast of California have so many kind and gentle Writers, Poets, Painters and Musicians. Willing to tell a you story of a long and good life.

Reviews

[Cascara (aka Sprint Goe..]

Great work- I guess we all see the good in our lives when it's about to slip away from our fingertips.

And what a powerful last stanza- especially your metaphor and the way you seamlessly provided an explanation for it right away.

Overall, a wonderful, poignant story.

[Coyote Poetry]

The people we meet who tell us of a great life. We were lucky to have met them. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Cascara (aka Sprint Goes Cascading!)]

My pleasure

[Tina Kline]

Lots of wisdom in this. It is the lucky person who finds such good things through out there life as they look back on it. Perhaps everyone is does as their lives get shorter and shorter. We can only hope we find more joy than pain. I like the way you write, I always hear the same voice as I read your work, like the same man is telling me another story.

[Sheila Kline]

Just wonderful! Amazing story and filled with your gift of compassion and understanding as your relay to the reader the old man's story!
Another fantastic write with a story to remember!

[Emily B]

I guess by now you know how I feel about listening to the wisdom of the old ones and the beauty of sharing love with those around us.

Stunning words here. The kind I love to read.

[Taylor H.]

this was great. Thank you for sharing.

[Tracie Skarbo]

the fact that you see them and are willing to listen, tells me alot about you as a person. I think these experiences, truly magical, are such a blessing that comes out of your words. I am sure, you too, have many stories to tell. Thanks so much for sharing!!

[Ross Saunders]

As always, a great poem. Great word choice, excellent lines, with a lot of superb insights. Only real question or thing that threw me off were the changes in font, but that was a relatively minor thing and I think it did work.

[Luna]

This is very sweet. The old man is very wise. Great write.

[Honeypot]

I always love your ideas . I'm not sure if this really happened or not? He had lots of good advice to give. Lovely story.

[Wicahpi]

You always have wonderful stories.
So much to learn from our elders and so
many elders left alone with no one to care.
This is uplifting with a valuable lessons enclosed!
Thank you for sharing!!

[bluessadmood]

This is a wonderful story..
we rise and fall each day like wars that come and go
love was a great gift ,was always fair ,you should have given more
loved more and kissed more and never complained
but is it worth it..lovers create more love and pleasure than pains
this was wonderful..i could see the pains in those words..it seems i know why
its an aching heart that has seen lots and lots..and wished it was never that way
lovely write..