Mr. Miller

Mr. Miller was our neighbor,

And what a mean, grumpy old man!

At least that's what we kids thought.

Whenever we saw him, we all ran.

He seemed to have an uncanny sense

Of knowing when we were in his yard.

Some of the feisty neighborhood kids

Tried to catch the grump off guard.

 

At Halloween the Miller house

Was one I always tried to avoid

Until one night my friend said, "Let's visit

The Millers." I wasn't overjoyed.

Mr. Miller opened the door

And--wow!--he wasn't wearing a frown.

He and his wife were warm and friendly

And they passed out the BEST candy in town!

 

How often we judge before we know!

How often we live in fears we create!

Once our eyes are opened, how glorious!

But when that happens, it's often too late.

 

It's odd how suddenly a person can change

To a kind neighbor from a mean old fart.

But amazingly the transformation

Was not in him, it was in my heart.

Soon after that Halloween he died

From a heart attack; that left us in shock.

I'll never forget kind Mr. Miller--

The "Boo Radley" on our block.

 

How often we judge before we know!

How often we live in fears we create!

Once our eyes are opened, how glorious!

But when that happens, it's often too late.

 

(5-12-15)