Old Man Walking Poem by Barry Middleton

I am old and know the truth
I know I am pretending
now I use a walking stick
my companion is gone

I know the mistakes I made
but now it is too late
too late to start again
I lost my way so long ago

and if I have a vacant stare
it is because I have forgotten
where was I going today
what was I looking for

and so I turn and move along
until a young child passes by
and jogs a memory
of when I was a fearless boy