The Waning Years

Uncle Ben

The waning years left me lost tears

for brethren I have loved so long

Remember days of childish ways

 taste of life was sweet as a song

 

Winds that blew, as they always do

from youth I saw in my mirror

A pale gray face, lie in its place

 old folly of years grows clearer

 

I laughed and played, as youth had stayed

duty could wait, while time was free

Time was my friend, though in the end

pain overcame what life left me

 

Author's Note

So often is this truth that we all dread the knock of the door.
For life's time waits on none of us
it masters fate with earnest callous
Caring for none in favored mercy
helping not whom it shows malice
Let us not seek reward in the end for deeds we should do by conscience. Let us instead stive to be fondly remembered by those we love.

Reviews

[bluessadmood]

This is so lovely my friend,lovely and sad..but i think it should not be..or is it
years left so many tears,those days of childish ways
life taste both sweet and bitter,the winds always blew
and i always looked the mirror,see two faces young and aged
I laughed for youth made me look like a fool
thought life could wait and time was mine
a friend who always tricked me to the end
pain always was my friend..pain always stayed with fools
You dont know how I enjoyed this..this was so great writing
but i dont think its that bad..fools also enjoy their life..pity
lovely write..

[harman kour]

its brill!!!! i m hurryin... 175 read requests!!! Empathize plzz.... :P

[R J Askew]

Ach, ain't that the truth. So much of life ends in pain.

[Kieran James McGovern]

i guess some of us live fast but don't necessarily die young... this somewhat reminds of a song called "the streets of london" by ralph mctell... good work! :)

[LonelySoul]

Good work on this my friend,
reminds me of my own poem called "the Mirror"

[Rick Puetter]

Dear Tate,

Great picture. Wonderful sentiments as always. Yes, life is gone in a flash and the final years can be filled with tears, regrets, and loss. A fine write.

Best regards,

Rick

[George Love]

You are developing a definite style for your work that will set you apart from the crowd. You describe the reflections of an aging friend, but turn the mirror inward as well. Well done, bittersweet work!

[The Last Poetic King]

Time does pass us quickly, which is why we should live like we want too. Not by how others want us too. So pretty much you gotta stay true to who you are, and never let someone else bring you down. If you follow what others want you to do, you'll live a life never knowing who you are. We are raised by our parents, but if you don't step away from the cycle we are destined to become them. Not who we truly are. That is usually why children rebel, so they can be who they want and not their parents. Very nicely written.

[Cassandra D.]

I think i liked this poem as well as the others i have read.
The first stanza was my favorite, though.

[little lily Bride of Ch..]

Bravo yes very Powerful piece Very Humbling also I love this Piece very nice

[Jenny Nelson]

A very powerful piece. Know someone who was "full of life," seems like just yesterday. Now the pain of cancer has "overcome what was left of" him. It all goes by and changes so quickly. Well chosen words and a well written piece that conveys much in a few stanzas.