Life

Life...... The old man sits there with a tear in his eye Been reminiscing for hours doesn't know why He's taken back to the days when he was young A lad just fourteen all his songs yet unsung Working alongside his dad on the old farm Already six foot tall with with two good strong arms Rising at half past four to start out his day Working long into evenings bringing in hay Then he's sixteen and love has knocked on his door It brought beauty and pain to trouble him more Couldn't hold her down she was young wild and free She made him a man but was far too carefree At eighteen his father departed this life Sadness became him and he battled with strife He sold up the farm couldn't face it alone Within five years all the money was blown Now he's twenty three and has found love again A beautiful woman to drive him insane She held onto his heart and showed him pure joy Three more years passed and they were blessed with a boy The old man looked up at the clock on the shelf Through teared eyes remembers his sons fight for health The grief was enormous when his son passed on His heart ripped apart like his whole world was gone He's thirty years old and alone once again His relationship ended through all the pain He took to drink now to forget all his woes Twenty years supping 'till the bitterness goes He woke up one day and knew it had to cease He had to move on hoping life found him peace Battled the urge through all the years that flew past Woke up this morning not knowing it's his last The memories spinning around in his mind Seeking out fragments that showed him to be kind Tears falling freely now from his reddened eyes Nobody to hear him or to heed his cries He empties the bottle into his old glass Takes a handful of pills and smokes on some grass His eyes close slowly and he takes a last breath His life is now over and he must face death (C) Jane Shields 19th December 2016