The Old Man And The Leaves Poem by Jim Yerman

I just completed reading Hemingway’s The Old Man And The Sea
And will now relate a similar battle that transpired...regarding me.

In case you’re unfamiliar, the story’s about an old fisherman from long ago
He’s down on his luck and loves baseball...especially Joe DiMaggio.

He travels far out to sea and catches a fish so big it must be tied along his boat
Only to be eaten by the sharks as toward his home port he does float.

It is a story of optimism and determination, of being pushed to the edge and then
Losing everything but your spirit and starting over again.

I have a similar battle with the leaves that fall each year
No matter when I rake them up the next day more appear.

Yesterday I took my old rake...for it was time I did believe
To once again begin the story of the Old Man And The Leaves.

I raked for hours fighting sweat and pain in my arms that today still lingers,
Braving mosquitoes, low hanging branches and blisters on my fingers.

My muscles ached from bending, I hurt from my head down to my feet
As I filled the bags with old, dead leaves and placed them by the street.

But like the Old Man in his little skiff, I fought through all my pain
I even began talking to myself...and answering...is that insane!

But on I raked and on I bagged as I coughed and sighed and sneezed
Every moment hoping for a cold front or at least a little breeze.

When I finished and I was feeling a moment of delight
I heard on the news my Tampa Bay Rays lost again last night.

“Well at least, ” I said through my aching bones, “All the leaves are gone.”
Just then a gust came from the heavens and dropped more leaves upon the lawn.

I had to smile at my luck remembering how Fate sometimes deceives
And tomorrow the story continues of the Old Man And The Leaves.