I ran into a old friend the other day
in the SuperMarket as we shopped
both bachelors so shopping was not hard
as we were both set in our ways.
Neither of us could remember the others name
as we had not seen each other in a while
so we awkwardly re-introduced ourselves
and laughed as we commented about our slow brains.
The conversation turned to soccer
as that is where we first met
playing on the same old man’s team
pretending to be young again like no other.
We had a good laugh as we shared a joke
and shook hands as we went on our way
knowing better than to say, let’s get together
of that there was no hope.
We had not bothered to stay in touch
and our mutual interest was long gone
as age had taken its toll
and the game no longer held us in its clutch.
I resumed my walk around the store
thinking about the years gone by
of the games we played and the people we met
and wished there had been much more.
Alas time has dealt us a terrible blow
weak in body and mind as the years pass by
and all of the friends we used to know
not even a memory left to show.
Written 9/26/2017
Wonderful image, and beautiful poetry Francis 🙂
Thanks Beth.
nice…
Thanks for commenting.
Your poetry is interesting and very frank! (No pun intended!)
I know all too well when mutual interests change with people whom one had known many years ago.
Forget about the past and don’t worry about the future. 🙂
In reality, so many “Friends” are really passing acquaintances depending on what their association is, like a soccer team or Pond Society. There are not too many real friends, those you have known forever and stay in touch with.
I think if he’d been a real friend you would have stayed in touch, but he was an acquaintance with whom you had just a little in common. Once the commonality ends, we go on with our lives.
Have you talked to your friend lately who was contemplating a move back to the states?
Sent from my iPhone
>
My point exactly. See the comment above and no, I haven’t spoken to George in a while.
Yesterday, when i walked with my dad down a path 1.5 kms long on his 87th birthday i could see his foot steps had slowed down and now this poem I could very well relate to. With time everthing slowly fades away…
I suppose that when we die, it is a form of fading away. It would be nice that when it is our time, we could just walk into the sunset and never return.
aw. this was beautifully written, vivid and nostalgic. thank you for sharing!
It’s funny that at the moment of meeting, it is just a couple of older guys talking about the past. Only after when you stop to think about it does it become nostalgic.
What a meaningful way to tell a story. Touching. How do you relate the image you choose? Different stages in life? Younger catapillers when you played soccer now butterfly colored with wisdom and time?
Nothing that deep I’m afraid. I choose one that I think fits the occasion. Thanks for commenting.
Oh did this post hit home. I so can relate to these words sadly to say. Life has a way of its own sometimes and those we have known have been left behind. Beautifully penned and thank you!
I think this is true of everyone of us as we have all left friends and acquaintances behind at some time in our lives.
wonderful poem! It is good to meet an old friend that we once knew long time ago.
In our case, emphasis on “old”. Thanks for the comment.