The Old Man And The Card

Time speaks to all those that have ear and will listen

So listen if you will as I convey its words as my heart did hear,

I will tell you of an event that made my eyes glisten.

For it was but yesterday as I was shopping for some necessities

When upon the greeting card aisle

I found myself browsing for awhile.

When around the corner appeared a very old man,

Who shook, wobbled, and walked with a cane in hand.

He stopped not to far from me

and began picking through cards and holding them close to see.

His hands shook and his eyes looked weak

 I tried not to notice…when to the cards he began to speak.

" Oh Sarah, oh my dear Sarah" I heard him say,

" Why oh why did you have to go away"?

"Fifty two years now and I have never missed a card,

but now my sweet Sarah…you have broken my heart"

He spoke on and on, as if I were not even there,

He talked of his Sarah's love and all that they once did share.

Tears now streamed down his wrinkled old face

as he at last found a card to suit his taste.

A large lump began to swell deep within my throat

As I turned to him and so gently spoke.

Excuse me Sir, but could you lend me a hand,

For you see, I need a valentines card and not of the generic brand.

{I was in hope that by him helping me…that in turn…it would help him

You know… that sometimes I can say the stupidest things}

Could you but spare me some advice?

For I need something very special for my wife.

A soft little smile soon crossed his face

as he began to reveal to me the foolishness of my haste.

 He told me of time and how it could be so cruel

Then he told me of his and Sarah's love and how he had been a fool.

He spoke of how he left her lying there on her deathbed,

for he could no longer stand to see her tears shed.

"You see son, true love is a little bit like a mighty river,

It winds its way all deep and slow,

With a many twist and turns…

However, in the end it always knows where it has to go."

 I stood there almost speechless at what this old man had to say

I felt of myself so unkind, to even have approached him this way,

For all that I had truly wanted, was to try and ease his mind.

Now all that I could think to do was run…while there was still time.

Yet before I could leave… he reached out his hand to mine and said

"Son, love those around you with all your might,

Never give up on them…for their love…always fight.

For our time, here on earth is much to brief,

And our love is all we have to keep stave off grief."

With that all said and done…he let go of my hand

And gave me the card that he had picked from the stand.

He smiled once more and began to shuffle away…

He stopped just once and turned to say….

"Love son…Love always…

Love like there is no tomorrow.

For all we have is today"

He then left the store…leaving me with his card in my hand

Leaving me weeping as I read the cards verse within.

"Love to you this special day"

"Loving you is the only way"

J. Allen Wilson © 2005

www.Jallenwilson.com