OLD FRIENDS

OLD FRIENDS

I saw an old friend of mine today,
strictly by chance, along the way;
He'd had a stroke last month, he said;
and was feeling lucky he wasn't dead.

I talked awhile with him and his wife,
about what was happening in my life
And what was happening in theirs;
I saw they were weighed down with cares.

We parted with a shake of hands,
knowing full well what life demands;
Knowing we might not meet again
unless by chance, as it had been.

He was in my thoughts as I drove home,
he had looked more frail, and all alone;
I thought about another friend I knew
Just last month, his life was through.

I had stopped to see him for a chat,
to talk about - just this and that;
I didn't know that he had died,
alone at home I sat and cried.

For old friends won't always be there,
with a smile to let you know they care;
and life is busier than it should be,
no time for those who mean so much to me.

Perhaps they know and understand why,
that the days just keep rushing by;
we will never know just when life ends
and we forever lose our dear old friends.

Countrymom
8/10/03