No Time Poem by jolenish fiber

I was walking down the back road by the coffee shop when I
noticed there was some music playing inside still.
Though it was dark, a few people were still seated inside.
Thought I would fancy a nice cup of chai tea and sat myself down.
I saw an older gentleman sitting near me, who looked very sober
very sober indeed.
I was curious but didn't ask how he was, so I just sipped my tea.
But he turned and faced me
and he started telling me his life story.
He started with saying how strange his life had been,
and with his glossy old blue eyes, and I could see through
his wrinkles, the pain that he had caused and suffered.
He had been in the last world war, said that his wife had left with another man by the time he'd gotten back,
and so he took up the drink to ease the pain of his heart.
He raped his thirteen year old daughter
while he was smashed out of his mind.
She ran off with her new boyfriend and hadn't heard from her until yesterday. He had recieved a letter that his daughter had died in Vegas, as well as her two year old son, conceived by her pimp.
He looked at his hands then, shaking and wringing,
fidgeting and acheing. I stared. I was silent.
He gazed at me, boringthrough to my back bone and said.
I am not a bad man, but I am not even close to a good one. You can either be a blessing or a curse. I have come to see since I got that letter, how little I gave other than hurt.
Realizing his sadness all over again, he rubbed his brow
no tears, only twisted pain and emotion.
I knew he was remorsed.
He took his hat after placing a few dollar bills on my table and left with
a solomn nod. I knew I would never see him again.
His name was Alan Fisher.
Time went on as it does, and I was given an assignment in my photo class to go to take a few pictures. I found Alan's grave, in a cemetary by a river. I knew he was relieved from all the trouble he'd inflicted.
His stone was unwashed, no flowers, fake or real were found.
Alan Fisher was forgotten, and at rest.
Be a blessing and not a curse.

8/26/07