THE OLD MAN IN THE CAMEO
Where does he come from, does he have a name?
The sunken cheek and hard eyes speak of pain,
Yet nobility remains and some pride deep within,
White hair quite clean, the mustache with a neat trim.
He seems foreboding, would a child be scared of him?
I’d love to see his hands would they be boney and thin?
I think that I could trust him walk awhile by his side,
Talk to him and try and ease the pain he tries to hide.
I wonder could it be his father who had been far away,
Had never seen or heard from him for many a long day?
Was that look one of silent hope that united they be,
Or a fond remembrance when he held him on his knee?
An old man’s face worthy of etching and done in cameo
Seems to whisper to my heart that grandad loved him so,
I hope he showed him how he really felt on the great day
And did not hide his emotions and strangers ever did stay.
(Millicent) Ann Margetson 22 January 2005