transient

“Memory Lane”
completed on 10/23/06

the elderly man slowly struggles down the street
clinging to his cane just to make it to the next block
he feels so frail and past his prime
he’s overcome with sadness knowing he lacks a lot of time
a teardrop forms and runs down his cheek
gravity pulls it down to his feet
the tear meets a puddle on the concrete
which the ripples transform into a time machine

he looks into the water’s reflection
but rather than the wrinkles and gray hair to which he is accustom
sees a much younger version of himself

age 6:
he’s up to bat at a tee ball game
scores the winning run and smiles as he watches
his teammates jump up and down with delight

age 17:
he lost a few friends when he resisted peer pressure
but he showed his true colors and made his parents proud

age 21:
the young adult walks across the stage
his parents cry with tears of pride
he finished first in class despite all the time he spent courting his future wife

the ripples calm, changes the reflection

age 37:
he sits in the stands, cheering his heart out
his two boys tear down the field
it doesn’t matter how they play, he can only be proud

age 58:
over 25 years of showing his love every day
his every breath solely for his wife and kids
they still love the dad who never quite grew up

age 73:
he laid his wife to rest a short time ago
and his kids are now living lives of their own
so now he spends his time awaiting their return

the sun comes out from behind the clouds

reflects off the water and lights up his eyes
he smiles to himself – he knows he’s lived a good life
continues his walk down memory lane with a renewed jump in his step