I passed by an elderly man sitting on bench under a lamppost
Staring at me with raised eyebrows and stealthy smile
His beard was white as snow and his hair in a long ponytail
Had the texture of silk and a tang of acumen sheen
There was a book in his hands folded closed
With a finger bookmark
As he stood up he appeared bigger than life
He walked right in front of me
And said “Excuse me young man
Can you tell me if the tide is coming in or going out?”
“Young man?” I replied with a smile
"I believe the tide is in the middle”
“Good. When the tide makes up its mind
I should be finished reading my book,” he announced
“And maybe I’ll have a chance to feed the seagulls”
“Sounds great,” I responded with a baffled expression
Saying to myself “I wonder where he’s going with this?
Maybe he’s just making conversation”
“I’ve seen many a moon and sun pass me by
And I’ve been dreaming lately of where I’ll be going
When it’s my turn to move on”
I couldn’t help but to say,
“Depends on where you came from
Before you were born
And what you’ve remembered from that point”
He looked out to the ocean
And then back to me
And said “It’s always wise to know what’s not worth repeating
That’s why this book is full of blank pages yet to be written”
And then turned around
Walked back to the bench
And continued to read
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Reviews of "the Old Man, the Book, and the Tide of No Return"
Intriguing, Jude. I am not having the best of days so my words are few but I don't give them out very easily. Thank you for this. As usual, you do not disappoint. Love and peace,
Jude, to my mind, you are the most-powerful of all philosophic writers, and have acute panache! The true beauty is, you know exactly from whence YOU came...and to Whom, you will return!
You rock, Jude!
Love, Rhonda
Reviewed by Vesna Perkovic (Reader)
Reviewed on October 1, 2006
YOU never disappoint...
I love visiting your Den ..I never leave empty-minded!
Thankyou!
There is a lot of wisdom held in the knowledge that we never repeat, be it that we fear it will not be well received or because we believe that it is only for us. A book of empty pages allows us to recite our own personal thoughts and solidify our position within the universe. A most deep and confirming pen, Jude.
Take care,
Sherry
fine writing and so intriguing... reading the blank pages yet to be written, the curious questions and mysterious pronouncements - all fascinating, don't you think? that old man (look inside?) knows something, I'd say. thanks, Dawn
An encounter in which each can make their own interpretations! Stunning, Jude! And yet a warning, or an omen, or a comment on life. Well-written. Excellent!
Philosophical, thoughtful encounter between an elder statesman of the street and a younger man willing to listen to someone who might at first hearing sound as if he's off his head, but we know better, thanks to this compassionate well-written poem. The universe is not in a hurry, and we should slow down and take time to listen. I liked this, Jude. In fact, I'll save it for a rainy day. :-)) k
Nothing like some salty sea air to clear the brain of useless repetitions and such... love the way you set this one up, Jude.
Very fine work, indeed.
Peace,
Carolyn
Excellent I could not stop reading and absorbing those blank pages filled with things not worth repeating sounds like one of my journals. Peace, blessings and gratitude for sharing this wonderful write. <Mikii>
The old man uses careful strategy about what is worth writing, (and reading) something original, something that can elicit a reader into a deep-thinking mode rather than a copycat writer who pulls the ink from a scholar's hard-earned opus that has already scribed the words that the lot of us have read eons ago...these copycat writers goal not at all to lend wisdom, but to puff out their own sails to let us know how educated they think they are and want us to acknowledge their copycat contributions...FOR WHAT! The old man has the magical wisdom of the snowy owl and he is as well-insulated as an arctic fox, wily in his foresight who might teach one when repetition becomes old and tired, it is time to move on to the mythical lure of the big white birds in Barrow, Alaska where there is a long history of the native Inupiat people and owls living together in tradition and respect. Now that is worth writing about and reading, the old man's blank book is now transformed into a winged icon, full with his fascinating stories...
Was it Cummings who did -the old man and the sea-
Indeed a superb write...
Reviewed by Victor Buhagiar (Reader)
Reviewed on September 29, 2006
This is a fantastic poem with a lesson to booth. How often do we learn things not worth repeating!!! Probably all the time considering what the media is dishing out these days. Victor
The proverbial phrophet seems to have been tweaking your muse and you with subtle yet profound words of wisdom. I love how you played this one off with a touch of humour vying for the solemness of the man.
there are times when we run up on a person who others may shun but they are amazing in their depth. I've met people like this and found them to be awesome individuals. Isn't this pen what that's all about. I really like your pen.
Love,
Susan
This is a very compelling write that makes the reader want to unravel the mystery. I have an image of you confronting yourself as the older man, who has a book with blank pages because they haven't been lived yet. No sense in filling the book with repetition of what you already know, the pages will be filled when you reach the stage the older man is at.
You're always the enigma Jude;-)I could be wrong....ET
This is a very intriguing write! Perhaps, like the tides, the old man had been struggling all his life to reach the shore, but couldn't; taking one step forward and then falling back each time.
That is why he said that something is not worthh repeating. The blankness of the pages of the book represents his unknown future, still waiting for the chapters to be turned and be read.
A very interesting intriguing write. I enjoyed the mystery!!!
This is my personal inspirational book of poetry. It contains many poems written for family, friends, and relevant life situations. Hopefully you will find some that will encourage and inpsire you in whatever arena you are found in your circle of l
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Regis
Jude, to my mind, you are the most-powerful of all philosophic writers, and have acute panache! The true beauty is, you know exactly from whence YOU came...and to Whom, you will return!
You rock, Jude!
Love, Rhonda
I love visiting your Den ..I never leave empty-minded!
Thankyou!
Vesna
Take care,
Sherry
Aberjhani
Peace. Joyce
This was worth reading
A keeper
Peace Be with you
William
cynth'ya
Beholder of the book
A freind is putting it into novel form......(because I am so lazy)
it must be in the wind
loved this :)
pax A
Very fine work, indeed.
Peace,
Carolyn
When you focus on something you really want with passion, then you always obtain it..
Maybe the old man was showing that we must be single minded in our intent..
Peter
Great title. Creates itchy curiosity. Perhaps the man was an angel, caught in a time warp, with the book of your own life yet to be written.
Perhaps he used invisible ink and had special contact lenses that allowed him to read what appeared blank. (-:
Perhaps he was the god of the tide who appears briefly when it hovers momentarily between coming and going.
The lines that muck up all human logic are:
“Depends on where you came from
Before you were born
And what you’ve remembered from that point”
Mysterious and indeed entertaining poet of the highest caliber.
Richard Lloyd Cederberg
Sage
Reindeer
Was it Cummings who did -the old man and the sea-
Indeed a superb write...
Fee
Love,
Susan
Allen
Keep your mind open and write!!
Love Tinka
You're always the enigma Jude;-)I could be wrong....ET
This is a very intriguing write! Perhaps, like the tides, the old man had been struggling all his life to reach the shore, but couldn't; taking one step forward and then falling back each time.
That is why he said that something is not worthh repeating. The blankness of the pages of the book represents his unknown future, still waiting for the chapters to be turned and be read.
A very interesting intriguing write. I enjoyed the mystery!!!
Sandie May Angel a.k.a. Sandie Angel :o)