THE PARK

The old man, and his dog, walked, with lantern in hand, 
every day, to the park down the road
Just prior to dusk. As he passed by my store, 
I waved, but he just never slowed.

It bothered me some and I just had to know
what made that man so self absorbed.
that he would ignore the greeting I made
and reject me with nary a word

I ventured to stop him and find out just why
one night as he tried to go past.
His story was touching, so I’ll tell you now
what he had to tell me at last

“I lost my eyes back in seventy six, 
just after my wife passed away
but I come to her graveside with lantern in hand
to talk to her there and to pray”

I don’t need the lantern to help me you see
but I do keep it lit through the night
it shines for the comfort it offers to me
that I’m able to show her the light

Oh Lord! shine your light till I join her down here
at this beautiful place in the park.
When I go to be with her I’ll help keep her safe
she was always afraid of the dark”

The dog just came past and he’s walking alone
for the past week he’s all that I’ve seen
I guess the old man is now keeping her safe
at that beautiful place ‘neath the green.