The Old Man Poem by Thomas Noel Smith

An old man ventured out
Far from those who knew him well
Far from the safety of his home.
Wandering, alone, alone.
In cold and bitter nights
And long hot burning days
Searching, searching
For what might bring him
Beyond this toil of dreamless life
Defined and measured
By time and man.

Onward through the trees and swamps
Onward through the heat and cold
Onward.
And within his heart
He heard a song
That sang of boundless joys
And eternal bliss

An old man ventured out amongst the stars
And saw the heavens all ablaze
With dancing twinkling lights
That called to him
And praised his name.

His thoughts and mind
Were raised aloft
Beyond the night
Beyond the day
Into the visions of what could be

Back he went to the home he knew
To those who knew him well
Back amid this group of friends
But none believed his tales.
“Dust was made for the living man
And dust we will become”
So laughed the voices of them all.

And the old man turned away.
He left all that he had known.
He turned away with bitter grief
But sought again the life that he’d found…
Amongst the stars with blazing lights
That called to him and praised his name.