ONCE A MAN

ONCE A MAN

How often as we journey 

Is there some special touch?

A chance meeting with a stranger

Which affects us very much.

A helpful hand lent to one

Whose battle is nearly done,

And words from him brought to me

An awareness of a battle won.

A quiet and gentle man

Of almost eighty seven years

And when I heard what he had said,

I wiped away my tears.

“Thankyou Dear” is what he said

“For my glasses and my drink”

And oh how much these words of his

Made me stop and think!

“Once a man and twice a child”

Were the words he said to me

And as I thought about what he said ~

I could clearly see.

We talked about growing old

And how the wheel of life turns,

And I gently covered him 

And left him to the peace he yearns.

His words affected my thoughts

And will stay with me always

How right he was about “once a man”

And dependency at the end of his days.

How well I understood his words

As I saw the kindly smile

On the face of this beautiful soul

Who had traveled many a mile.

I did not just see a man 

Now getting older in years,

I saw the beautiful baby 

And I saw his Mother’s tears.

I saw the man he had become

And how much his life has changed.

I had a glimpse of life for us all

And how our days are thus arranged.

His words will stay with me 

For the measure of my days,

And I hope that when I am old

I have some of his charming ways.

I covered him gently,

And quietly turned out his light

I knew his words would change me

And I whispered a quiet “Goodnight.”

I doubt that this man would ever know

That words from him so soft and mild

Will always bring a warm memory

“Once a man – twice a child.”

Linda J. Vaughan

August 28th. 2002

Mr. O'Byrne was a patient in the next bed to my Father in hospital.

Written with Mr. O’Byrne in mind – they were his words.

I finished this piece today.

© Linda J. Vaughan

May 20th. 2011