Chance meeting

Today I saw a schoolfriend old of mine.
He was dressed dully, he was dressed in tie.
Around him, his children merrily played,
their mother next to them, life’s dangers relayed.

He came to greet me, a hand to shake.
Has he forgotten how a hug to make?
His words asked me how I was, how I fare…
His voice told me: he had forgotten how to care.

I wanted to tell him, his senses to set again right:
‘With crayons the world I paint in hues both dark and bright.’
His dull eyes warned me with their fading light.
My voice came empty “The same old; I guess I’m alright”

He started speaking of the work he did.
My ears closed, my mind wandered, my brain hid.
A young girl behind him, cheerfully run a bus to catch;
in my mind words joyfully danced to find their match.

Stern voice, to reality boring, pulled me once more
“You must mature now, we’re kids no more”
“Mature and wither? Grow up and settle?
my imagination is still a boiling kettle…”

I quickly left, fearful that his stare could kill.
‘Goodbye old friend, sorrow for you I’ll feel’
Today I saw a schoolfriend old of mine.
He was staring back, from my old mirror’s shine…