THE OLD MAN

I met a man yesterday
With eyes as old
as time.
Eyes
gray and dull
and nothing like
the pretty flowers
he sold.


Saw sadness
saw fear
saw loneliness
whirl around
and whisk
tears that cried
anguish
and
pain.


Throat constricted
cry stifled
the eyes
were speaking
to me
I stood to leave
and
leave I did
for it wasn’t me.

I don’t make things right.

This old man
made me think
I could love
Make him live
put a silver gleam
in his eyes
But leave I did
for it wasn’t me.

I don’t set things right.

I could
Sit and talk
and spare few hours
of my life.
That’s all.