For An Old Man (Baltimore 1968) Poem by Steven S. Walsky

i saw an old man today
he was all of ninety years
gray hair and whiskers did grow
round his ears

i asked him why he penciled notes
upon a browning pad
i do it to pass the day, he said
to keep from being sad

was he the wiser of generations
are we the age he has been
or is he just the passing of time
and of bottled gin

i saw an old man today
he was all of ninety years
gray hair and whiskers
did shadow his lonely tears

(Copyright Steven S. Walsky 1968)