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

[Katie L]

i like this poem, great job!

[Scarlet Pulse]

I love the picture. The poem is beautiful.

[Siddartha Beth Pierce]

Excllent flow and rythm in this work. A truly haunting tale. Very descriptive and compelling. Nicely penned, Tate. Truly an enjoyable read.
Light,
Siddartha

[Pax Analog]

You've matched your poem w/the Beatles song of the same title, but really, your lines read like a song lyric from medieval times, w/slightly modernized phrasing. Get out your lute! ;-)

Ye Olde Man's Lament. . .

Intriguing

[SM Davis]

curious, did you write the poem while listening to the song, or did you attach the song after the poem was written? This is a nice tribute.

[LonelySoul]

this is like walking a sidewalk,being followed by shadows but nobody next to you as you tread lightly on egg-shells,hoping not to step on a crack,passing an old man on a bench,who is not really reading his newspaper,but just remembering his old life...

[Maria F. Rojas]

love it, and the picture is so amazing

[Belator Books]

These lines seem to allow us into a fictional vision, yet one with earthly tethers, as if some biographical elements were mixed into a dream, then cast forward into the future: spent beauty, wistful longings and the ever-present dread of loneliness. Real or not, each word shows itself carefully selected and placed exactly where it should go. A soulful read, and as such invokes the soulful reaction.

[EMW]

This was awesome. I love the picture.