Remembering Their Smiles Poem by Jim Yerman

They noticed the older couple up ahead of them…their hands were interlaced…
The woman leaning up against the man…his arm around her waist.

Standing at the water's edge…he gave her an embrace.
then he stepped back, said "Smile"…as he put his camera to his face.

They walked up to them instinctively…knowing what to do
"Would you like us to take your picture? " they asked, "a picture of the two of you?

They took their picture, then another…and suddenly…when their picture taking was through…
the old man grabbed his camera and asked "May I take a picture of you? "

They chatted together for a while even filled a few more camera frames…
by the time they were ready to part they knew each others names.

They hugged goodbye glad to be a part of brightening each other's day.
until they felt the old man's touch upon their shoulders as they turned to walk away.

"I just want to thank you", the old man said, "for taking our picture."
"For the attention to us you paid…
for your smile…for your kindness…
for the memories we made."

He said he and his wife had traveled the world together
he spoke of the memories they'd amassed
but, he told them wistfully, his wife was dying and this trip would be their last.

He said they've found that some of the greatest moments in life
are the the moments unrehearsed
and he thanked them again for making one of their last memories together
as beautiful as their first.

They looked into each other's eyes…she gave his sleeve a tug
then they turned around, walked over and gave his wife a hug

They didn't look back as they walked away…
after she whispered thank you in their ears….
They wanted them to remember their smiles
they didn't want them to see their tears.