An old man walked my way
In worn out shoes and ragged clothes
Long hair and beard of silver gray.
I spoke as he came close by
And asked him to rest with me
For he looked weary of life's travels
And as lonesome as could be.
As he sat there beside me
Cold shivers ran down my spine
As he told about his life gone past
Of glory days and wonderful times.
Then his voice began to tremble
And his eyes filled with tears
As he talked of a wife and family
That had been lost for many years.
He told of a warm and special love
And of tender moments they all had shared
And how he risk it all to prove himself a man
And how they thought he had never cared.
He said, "In this game of life
Your loved ones and happiness are the stake
And once lost they're gone forever
So watch carefully the chance you take.
Remember while you play this game,
When you stand you stand alone
And when you loose there's nothing left
But this cold, cruel earth to roam."
Only then I realized no one was there
And that man so sad and old
Was my soul telling me to be prepared
For my whole life was just foretold.
(October 23, 2003)