Meeting Him

Meeting Him

The old man sits on the bench just watching the crowd,
He never says much, at least not aloud.
His eyes dart here, then just over there,
I wonder who he’s looking for, I’d ask if I dared.

I slowly walk across the miles that separate us two,
Miles?  It was mere yards, but I’ll swear miles til I’m blue.
I sat down near him, took a close look at his face,
So rugged, yet so gentle, with wrinkles that looked like lace.

He felt my stare, turned and saw me looking at him,
Then said, “Good morning, G’day, how are you Jim?”
My mouth dropped open as he mentioned my name,
“You know me, but forgive me, I can’t say the same.”

“I’ve known you since you were a child so small,
I watched as you skated with your sister down the hall.
I saw you play music in school, French horn and Trombone,
You’ve not had many friends, but you’ve never been alone.”

My mouth dropped farther open, for all he’d said was true,
“How do you all this? For I’m sure I don’t know you.”
I looked closer ; afraid of being wrong in what I'd said,
He smiled softly, leaned back and said, “Go ahead.

Relax Jim, think back to your past; let your mind free,
You’re not the only one who’s forgotten me.
But few who’ve forgotten ever see me here,
Yet I’m always with you, throughout the year.”

I did my best to think of people I’d known in school,
Then my mind went blank, I felt quite the fool.
He looked at me again with a smile on his face,
And said, “It’s fine Jim, I’m the one who’s out of place."

He rose from the bench and stretched his arms to the sides,
Looked around at the crowd, and my eyes opened wide.
For I now knew this man, I knew his name and his past,
But I couldn’t say it aloud, in a spell I seemed cast.

He glanced down and saw the knowledge in my eyes,
Then said, “I knew you’d get it, now we must say our goodbyes.”
I stood next to him, looking around at the holiday rush,
I felt his hand on my shoulder, in a hug I was crushed.

I held him tightly, and heard a whisper in my ear,
“Jim, I see your heart is full of holiday cheer.”
I started to say his name, but knew there was no need,
Instead I said, “That it is kind sir, always full of love indeed.”

He turned and slowly walked away his head held high,
Next thing he was gone in the blink of an eye.
Then I heard bells ringing and a soft ‘Ho-Ho-Ho’,
And I knew just where it was I had to go.

Shopping it was, I max’d out all my cards,
I got gifts for all, used all my rewards.
But the best gift of all was given to me,
The day I met Santa, on Christmas Eve.

Jim Dorrell
12/4/09

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