Tell Me About Life

The Visitor

This is dedicated to those who suffer from a syndrome called narcolepsy. Such people cannot control when they will fall asleep, and they take periodic, short naps throughout the day. Needless to say keeping a job, driving a car (impossible for obvious reasons), and obtaining the understanding of others is difficult.

The Visitor

I was just sitting down at our table
When my wife’s dear, old Aunt Mabel
Declared she’d met the nicest bum
And asked if maybe he could come
And share our Christmas sugarplum.

Well, I’m sure you see, I couldn’t say no
So, I teased her about this latest beau.
My aunt turned pale and then turned red.
I worried she’d have to take to her bed.
“All right, I’ll keep mum,” I humbly said.

The day arrived when we’d share our feast.
The bread had risen, the pans were greased,
And inside the oven, tanned a tasty ham.
I’d just put down the olives and jam,
When HE knocked: his name was Sam.

Scruffy and old, still, he wore a sweet smile
And a bright red tie -- at least he had style.
He’d brought Mabel, a limp, half-dead rose.
Later, sitting at the table, he started to doze.
So, I sneered at the bum and his cast-off clothes.

Yet, Aunt Mabel, you gotta bow to such a soul,
Ignored his snores and passed the casserole.
Sam woke up then and apologized to all.
When he told us the reason, I felt pretty small.
For he had a problem, but not alcohol.

We spent that meal in fine contemplation
Sam knew his Bible – almost every quotation.
And we laughed and chatted the whole meal long
Which came as a shock, for, boy, was I wrong;
I proudly shook the hand of Mr. Armstrong.

There are some who judge and others who see
That all hold value and everyone’s worthy.
For Sam was a jewel we discovered that night,
Polite and kind, uncomplaining of his plight.
That one meal changed me for I've seen the light.