Ink Whispers

For Paul Squires...

There's an old man,
in a grey fedora
and grey suit
with a slow rolling
gait and pays attention
to every little thing
that surrounds him

When the old man laughs,
I can sense it in the
rays of the sun,
when the old man cries,
its heard in the painful
tinklings of a well worn
piano that's seen its share

The old man inspires,
whether he knows it or not,
his life cord intertwined
with the world that he holds
in his hands
The grey hat is but a thing,
a part of him, it does not
define him
The words don't define
There aren't enough to give
him a proper name

The old man has
a way about him,
no it's not me waxing
romantic, but waxing
poetic of an old man
who makes the world

a little lighter

a little brighter

He's always there
Even if I can't spy him
out of my eyes
I sense him

With a pen
a hat
a laugh
a grin

I send a flutterby
a butterfly
to him.

Reviews

[Jonathan Ballam]

This was liqiud narration. I enjoyed the image of the old man which seems to me to be a Dylan Thomas influence.

The only thing that bothered me was the slight humor in the ending. The words flutterby and butterfly was seemed to scramble up the rhythm of the poem you had going there.

Here's my suggestion of an alternative ending:

I send a butterfly
back to him.

This would be more subtle and thought provoking...

[SpitfireGrrrl]

The old man has
a way about him,
no it's not me waxing
romantic, but waxing
poetic of an old man
who makes the world

a little lighter

a little brighter

I love it!

[.]

i love the descriptive imagery!!!
this is superb!!!
"The old man has
a way about him,
no it's not me waxing
romantic, but waxing
poetic of an old man
who makes the world

a little lighter

a little brighter"

Just A Beautiful Poem!:-)

james:-)

[Ebby]

So very apt.
Anyone who knows him will understand your meaning, and certainly all the motes of guidance and inspiration he exudes touch many.
I think that as a gift, this is truly lovely writing.
I understand what Jonathan says about the last lines, but considering his delight in wordsmithery, I think it fits well here.
I'm really enjoying having a good read, I may pop up in your comments again.
xx

[Helen Woodward]

Beautiful!! Old people are truly inspiring to the observant writer, there is much to learn from those who have gone before. It is in the willingness to learn that we grow. They do have an aura of significance and a presence that lingers.
Well done hon ((((((((((((((((AMBER))))))))))))))))))

[TrickyMissKitty]

this is a beautiful and inspiring piece. positive yet shadowed imagery.

[Jason Shadows]

Very Good. Keep Up The Good Work.

[DiMar4u]

very cool!
our lives become deep with time.
so much experience,
impossible to translate
it all into words in one day.

[Tomás Ó C..]

To be such an inspiration...

[Antonio Valentino]

Its amazing how much people you might not suspect influence us greatly.

The older we get, the more we kind of return to our youth.
I just know he loved the butterfly.

Lovely Amber.
Antonio

[Narnie]

He's written many a tribute to you too Amber... have you seen them all? He is very quiet at the moment but if I know him at all, I know he will be thrilled with this. I wrote one for him once and he insisted the subtitle be 'The W@nker'. My title for it was 'The Magician Poet'.