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.