I once met a man

who knew it all

at least that was his attire,

'Been there done it, seen it all.'

he would often boast

some would admire.

Yet I could not help but feel sorry for him

that his way

was just a veneer,

for in truth

he was a boastful sort

who had never done or been anywhere.

Lonely was his call in life

like an actor

strutting on stage,

he would weave so many stories

gather listeners

who hung on every word.

They saw him as a hero

who had fought

for every cause,

when he spoke

he had so much charisma

he stood oh so very tall.

Yet in his eyes

he bore much pain

like an abandonded vacant plot,

when I asked him

would he like a Coffee

it was as if I gave him such a lot.

We talked over several Coffee's

for what seemed like

several hours,

the truth I heard

was very different

he was so very

very sad.

He had lost his way

through many pains

that had slowly pulled him down,

now his life

was grinning at him

from the bottom of a bottle

without it he would wear a frown

so he lived his illusion,

lived his life

to make people smile

became a hero and a clown,

yet hidden inside

was this

so very different

for he was lonely lonely man.