A Poor, Wayfaring Man of Grief

"The evidence of yesterday, Is what we disallow, The future is a better way, To live our lives right now." ------------------------------ A poor, wayfaring man of grief, Hath passed me on my way, And though I stood in disbelief, He stood in disarray. I felt some need to comfort him, To share his heavy load, And yet, my fate was also grim, And mutual, our road. I thought about a future day, When all the world is kind, And love is not a word to say, But more, a peaceful mind. I followed him, to find our place, Beneath a Poplar tree, But when I gazed upon his face, I saw the man was me. I did not speak a kindly word, Or treat him very nice, Because my shame was still preferred, To giving him advice. I thought about a quick retreat, To expedite my way, I would not hear of his defeat, In words of yesterday. But when he turned to look at me, I knew that it was so, The young man that I used to be, Was someone I should know. I knew that he was all alone, A victim of my past, But when he found my comfort zone, We stood and wept at last. I knew that he was sad and low, A desperate place to be, And yet, he had the strength to show, How much he cared for me. Because he fought for my relief, He set my spirit free, A poor, wayfaring man of grief, Is rich enough for me.