SAD EYES
There was an old man who lived down the lane from us,
Of every stray animal and little child he’d make a fuss,
Always had candies or bright red apples to give away,
And, oh, the tales he’d tell you if you had time to stay.
He was an old mariner who had sailed the seven seas,
Climbed the Himalayas, told of friends who did freeze,
Walked along some shores on sparkling white sand,
But with sad eyes said he’d never held loved ones hand.
In his small cottage were treasures from places far away,
Strange sea shells and pretty pink corral from some bay,
Pearls he’d gathered from seas both deep and very clear,
But those sad eyes showed he wanted some family near.
He’d been an only child, his parents died when he was eight,
And to go off to an orphanage was the poor child’s fate,
Then started as a cabin boy on a mighty ship out to sea,
From then on his life was hard work but happy as could be.
But he had no one to call him son, sweetheart, darling or dad,
No one to give gifts to, no one to tell when he was happy or sad,
His ship mates were his only family when sailing the seven seas,
But those sad eyes showed he needed some family love to seize.
Everyone loved him and wanted to bring joy to his old heart,
He gave so much joy to others, each wanted to do their part
To find a family for the old sailor who had no real family,
They wanted those sad eyes to dance with love and jollity.
The folks in the lane and others too, adopted him as grandad,
They made a sign ‘Our Grandad Lives Here,’ oh, how glad
When the old man read those words, he knew he had family,
And everyone wanted to add him to their own big family tree.
He hardly ever had a meal all by himself, a family member came,
Or he was invited to eat out and his life was never again the same,
No sad eyes told tales now, but eyes full of love, gratefulness,
That a small community could an old sailor man so truly bless.
He lived to be about ninety and the old church was full,
And he had a military funeral, so his burial was not dull
And all the children sang praises to their dear grandad,
And up in heaven all knew his eyes would not be sad.
(Millicent) Ann Margetson November 3, 2003