Today I passed an elderly couple
Well dressed
Both walking with canes
It seemed that they were
Both engrossed in their own thoughts
For neither were talking
I wondered what she was thinking
As she stumbled along
Each footstep
Seemed an effort
Was she going back
To her youth
Or was she thinking
Of their children
And grandchildren
What was she thinking
As she so slowly moved
And he
What was going through his mind
It seemed he was a man of means
At one time
A man of importance
For he still walked with pride
With an erect back
And a proud look
He wore a fedora
Something you rarely see now
And what was he thinking
As he himself moved
With such pain
Did he go back
To when everyone respected him
And of his accomplishments
Was he thinking back over the years
And was he happy with his choices
They continued to walk
They know the end is coming
For they had lived a long life
And had seen the times change
Their lives had taken them through wars
And depression
They no doubt had known hard times
And good times
And now in their twilight years
Their time here on earth
Will soon end
Will they die in peace
Knowing that they did all things right
Will they know that there is no doubt
Of where they will spend eternity
Or will there be some doubt
And wishing things could have been different
Why do people wait until the end is near
And then wonder
Why didn’t they cross that road
Earlier
Perhaps they both are satisfied
With their life
And how it turned out
For we only walk down this road
Once
Only once
Are we walking down the right path
For us
Gail Adams
Author of Heaven and Earth and In Between
