Softly, softly, softly and now we are old!

Where did all those years go?

They were filled with seconds,

minutes, days, weeks and months.

Each, at the time, so important

but now lost in forgetfulness.

 

Strange how the mind censures the bad,

leaving only the bright and positive.

Those shadows are still there but

they are just shadows, blinded by light,

left only, to give meaning to joy.

How fortunate to have health and love.

 

In later years, the joy of words surface.

They tumble from a mind to mark a page,

bring life and form to thoughts and ideas.

These thoughts, the distillation of our

unconscious being, will not be denied.

Perhaps they will comfort others.

 

So, softly, softly, kind time has smoothed hurts,

healed wounds, quenched yearnings,

fulfilled love and friendships, given meaning

to all the events that make a life, that may be,

grand or ordinary, applauded or ignored,

and from this we realize that, love is all.

 
 

David Garlick, Sidney, May, 2003