Old Man Looking Back
Old Man Looking Back
Lone figure in the distance looking back from a tall hill
Shades of something familiar that gave me a cold chill
A look , a stand , something strangely calm about the man
Even the sky at his back set the stage like an ordered plan
A trancelike state suddenly seized total control of me!
Then that voice I could both hear and so clearly see
Look back old man, was voiced with such controlling air
Tingles sped up my back and crackled loudly in my hair
Such mellow and measured speaking with a reassuring calm
Raising both hands he showed a big red star on each palm
These are time marks that send me years forward and back
So many thousands of such journeys, I've even lost track
Stare deeply into one in my left palm , you go back to see
Life you lived , the young , very shy youth you used to be
To return just look intently to the red star on the right
Your mind, body and soul will return in the flash of white
Without any hesitation I did as he told me to act and do
Away in a flash of brilliant white light I quickly flew
Back to the boy fishing lazily under familiar Willow tree
Shocked to see the happy little boy was none other than me!
I then remembered that so lucky day, caught a fish so very big
On a cut cane pole so slender and not much bigger than a twig
Next a flash snatched me to another sweeter place and time
At the local store Mary and I bought two cones for a dime
The bright glow of adoration and baby love on her angel face
Brought a stream of joy for that reflection, time and place
Another flash and light sent me into my young married life
Days of contentment , sweet bliss , love of my first wife
She suddenly walked so gracefuly into that large living room
Glowing like the majestic beauty of fair rose in full bloom
Before I could speak to her , my beloved, away I again flew
A clear voice loudly calling out , return now, I mean you!
Back swiftly to the smiling old man, resting on the tall hill
Then I saw his face clearly, O' what a marvelous great thrill
Looking right at me was my smiling so very much older face
Then in a flash it vanished , gone forever without a trace!
Next I found myself looking again at the very distant hilltop
A voice booms out, look forward young man and do not ever stop!
Robert Lindley, 06-09-2014
Was inspired to write this today , a poem I read in early morn
in a poetry book titled, Songs of the Soil , by Frank L. Stanton
, D. Appleton and CO. 1894..--- gave me this inspiration.
That poem he wrote was titled, A Song In Good Time.
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