The Old Man by Bill Chandler
THE OLD MAN
The old man sits by himself’
On the sand.
And watches it slip through
His leathery hand.
Alone – all alone
His friends have all died.
And his kids have all moved,
He thought as he cried.
It seems such a harsh way
To wrap up a life.
No children, no friends’
No dog, and no wife.
But the ocean saw fire,
Burning bright In his eye.
It pierced through the clouds
When he looks at the sky.
The boat, she is tattered
& wrinkled & old.
But the Captains alive,
Ever daring and bold.
He though to the time
With his kids at his side,
He spent his last dime
on a carnival ride.
Or the time at the grange hall,
He took his big chance.
And asked the class beauty,
If with him she would dance.
He always said “Yes”
When the others said “No.”
Then they all said “Stop!”
And he yelled “Let’s Go!”
He went for it, went for it,
Year after year.
Trial after trial,
Fear after fear.
He had dreamed of the time
When the tempest would cease.
When the break in the storm,
Of his life would bring peace.
Now he listens so gently,
To the life song he’d sung.
To the music that’s made,
As a man becomes one.
But he didn’t hear,
As the tide touched his head.
The little boy holler
“The old man is dead.”
For he was off soaring
In his mind up above.
Reaping the joy,
Of a life filled with love.
For I am that man,
Looking up from the past.
Living my moments of life,
‘Till the last.
And I proclaim boldly,
T’was my dreams and my fears,
That brought me such sorrow,
Such joy and such tears.
Such wanting, such heartache,
Such hope and despair.
It was clear that the ocean
Just isn’t fair.
But without all the trial,
My life would be dross.
All victory, triumph, and glory
Be lost.
While time travelled on,
Though the waves didn’t cease.
Yet still through the tempest and storm,
I found peace.
Through the eyes of the Captain,
Of life I now know,
The truths of a life
That I lived long ago.
And now as I sail other skies
I can see.
That the storms and the tempest
are what set me free.
Though so long by myself,
Through my dreams I was shown.
As I sat on the sand,
I was never alone.
Bill Chandler 1-94
