At the Lake, Fire and Ice

At the Lake, Fire and Ice Here I am, at this same lake, Where once I learned about a homeless man. He taught me something on that day, About thoughts of the left behind, And those on the take......... He had lost his beloved Jimmy, Had given his soul to lust and drink. Too far gone, but still he remembered, Memories of Jimmy, and of himself, The sun on the lake does shimmy....... The man has left his tree now, Who knows what fate he may have reached. But I am here again, this time alone. At least on my side of the lake, but over there, Stands the woman, hands on the plow. I’m dressed for comfort, hands at my side, She’s dressed for business, hands on her hips. She is mad, she yells at me, “Why did you let Jimmy die!!!” I say, “I didn’t, may his soul abide”! “You did,” she says, “and I’ll tell you why, you stood aside while the young left, to fight wars in places unknown.” No rally against them, I guess she’s right, I let them go, with a tear in my eye. And then I called out to her, May I come ‘round the bend? For when we had last met, we had been friends. She said, “Yeah, come on, I remember you still.” And so I did, chasing ducks for sure. So now, we are face to face, fire on ice. I say to her, “Jimmy volunteered”! “Yeah,” she says, “and so would have you, rather than live your life in the ghetto”! That makes me think, think at least twice. The poor go to war, while the rich do shirk. To be poor and to be of color, means you are on the front line for sure. She’s right, I’ve let Jimmy [and others] down. By not raising my voice, my honor does lurk. I look in her eyes, and say “forgive me”. She looks in my eyes, and says “I do”. “But always remember what you have learned, here by the lake of memories”! “I will,” I say. “I know,” says she. She puts her cool hand on my face, and kisses me gently, then fades away, Into the mist from which she had sprung. I am alone again by the lake of life, alone, alone......and in my place. copyright2002-Brazos MasonAnother visit to the lake where I discovered Jimmy's father, and a woman........ Written March 9th, 2002 © on Mar 09 2002 01:04 PM PST, Brazos Mason   0 • 9