tempted by time

old wrinkled hands folded over one another
as the wind blows his hair
so grey and dirty
for him nobody longer cares

every day he watches how the world moves along
as he sits on the concrete sidewalk
barefoot and shivering
alone

his eyebrows blend in with his beard
his nose blistered and red
his fingernails long and black
he literally recieves only "daily bread"

and as i walk on by
i stop and look on down
at this old man shivering
he sees me and just manages a frown

he greets me in a groggy voice
and offers me a smoke
his eyes glisten as he looks at me
and i offer him my coat

i sat there for quite a while
as this man told me his life story
it went something like this
i hope it touches you like it did me
.....................................

i met a women long ago young man
while i was in the army
a joung infantryman
her name was mary

she had the most beautiful hair
her smile could light up the room
i use to just sit and stare
and wish i could be her groom

so i asked her to marry me
when we were at the beach
couldn't afford a ring
so i gave her a peach

i promised her the world
and a beautiful ring one day
so i worked two jobs
never went astray

and every time when i had money
something would come up
forget the ring this month"
"we'll get it next month honey"

for years i could see
how she stared at her finger
it broke my heart you know
the pain still lingers

so as all her years passed
and i said goodbye at her death bed
i cried and i wept
and this is what i said..

i promise that i will buy your ring
and i will keep it close to me
and every day i would know that you
are next to me

so i went out and sold all my things
and walked cash in hand to the store
i bought the most beautiful ring
and i will keep it for ever more

............................

he lifted his hands
and scratched in his bag
and took out a beautiful ring
wrapped in a dirty old rag

he then handed it to me
and told me to live,
live life to the fullest
to my bride i must give

and the very next day
i passed his place
and found him lying
already blue in the face