I Write, and Having Written, Move On

Old Friend

I saw an old friend
So I went up to say hello
I was shocked by his appearance
He looked old, tired, and slow
I asked how he was
How had he been?
He sighed when he answered
“So many things I wish I had seen.
I thought I had time
But it’s all gone by so fast
Now the future is already here
And today is the past.”
Then he raised his head
And looked me in the eye
I could see by the glisten
He had started to cry
“Don’t wait until tomorrow
What you can do today.
Be in each and every moment
Lest they all slip away
Remember the good times
But the sad ones too
For they are what makes us
When it all comes due.”
He turned away slowly
And started to leave
Wiping his tears
Away on his sleeve
That’s when I noticed
We wore the same shirt
The same pants, the same shoes
Both covered with dirt
As I took one last look
And let his warning sink in
I knew now was the time
To start living
To begin