The Humble Man

I decided upon thought
That I ought to go
To the diner one last time
Before I depart
On my first and last journey

My aged hearing
Could hear nothing
But the sigh of a far distant song
Snaking through the cracks and window sills
Of the city of gold

My cramped legs
Could do no more
Then move systematically
Down the worn sidewalks
On the streets where I once
Learned of life and tenderness

The generous waiters
who knew me so well
assisted me to my seat
where I came nearly every week

I sat down gratefully and ordered
the usual.
Soon a family walked in.
The family was simply there, and not.
The two parents
Seemed to be young
And yet their eyes showed the beginnings
Of the wisdom I had earned over the years

Their children were
Like feathers floating upon the ocean
Elegant and pure-hearted
Curious and witty.
The family was seated
In the booth beside me

As soon as I heard them
Begin to speak, I was aware
That I had finally found
What it was I had searched for
All these years.

When I spoke to them,
At first they were mindful
And then they responded
With friendliness and lightheartedness.

They didn't believe me when I told them who I was
But I knew some day they would.

When they left, I asked the waitress
To take my money
And I rose and took a toothpick
And walked back to my house
And took
A rest.