The Cowboy’s Eyes

I’m just an old cowboy he’d say,

broken down in my younger days. 

I gave away the best of me. 

Now all I have left is what you see. 

His worn down boots had traveled miles

but I knew he still had dreams. 

I saw tenderness, a warm smile,

in a man with a world yet to see. 

And I saw happiness, for a little while,

as his eyes studied me. 

I saw years of honest living

in the roughness of his hands. 

I knew he’d done his share of giving,

and rearranging plans. 

His eyes told me the important things

about this gentle, caring man. 

I said I hoped we’d meet again

and noticed he looked surprised. 

He thought he’d lost what I’d want of him,

but I saw what was left inside. 

I saw wisdom that couldn’t be disguised

in the lines around the cowboy’s eyes.

Sandy Knauer