The Quiet Old Man

March 26, 2022

The soft glow through the window brought morning’s first light.
The old man remained sleeping, he’d lived through the night.
His will to keep going was now in decline.
He was ready to quit, to give up, just resign.

He’d retired and the pension had covered his bills.
Now his days ran together and seemed hard to fill.
He was never outgoing, was almost obscure.
He’d remained in the shadows a bit insecure.

He’d worked the same job all the years of his life.
It has been twenty years since the death of his wife.
A man with no family, no siblings, no child,
Now lost and alone he found nothing worthwhile.

He rose from his bed, put on trousers and shoes,
He buttoned his shirt, all the same, nothing new.
He heard a faint tapping, someone at his door.
He didn’t have friends, no one came any more.

He had not a clue as to who it could be.
He eased open the door and with one eye could see
It was just a small boy with a wagon in tow.
It was filled full of puppies, a dozen or so.

The boy was polite and began to explain
Why he’d knocked on his door and the reason he came.
The boy was persistent and wouldn’t give up
Determined to find a new home for each pup.

The old man became weary invited him in.
The boy kept insisting, he knew he would win.
He offered to help to come back every day
To walk and to feed it if he’d just let one stay.

The old man relented, gave up in the end.
The boy kept his promise became a good friend.
The old man and his dog now get out and take walks.
He knows all his neighbors; he visits and talks.