Shadow On The Wall Poem by Richard Shindle

The old man sat in his chair looking out the window, as the sunlight cast his shadow on the wall behind him.

Trying to kindle a fire that burned out long ago, memories raced thru his mind of times gone by.

There were children full of laughter, joy and mischief who abounded with untiring energy.

There were camping trips, trips to the beach, trips to the zoo, trips to distant vacation spots, fishing and hunting adventures.

The good times occupied the old man's mind, as he tried to forget the bad times.

He reflected on his days of youth, his high school and college days, old friends some now long gone, the army and Viet Nam, and starting a successful business.

He thought of the business trips to San Francisco, New Orleans, and Las Vegas.He remembered the big homes, the ranch, the horses, Ramses the jaguar, and Tigress the Bengal tiger.How could he forget the wins and losses at the casinos, and the exciting times on the trips north to the cabins in Alaska and the Yukon.

He remembered the aroma and joy of family barbeques, the salmon fishing and the bear hunts.

Nothing lasts forever.Life is uncertain, sometimes unfair, and can change in the blink of an eye.Just for a split-second he thought about the decisions he made and the actions he took.That split-second may have changed his life forever.

Thru all the joys, adventures, misadventures, good times, hard times, the old man had a loving, caring companion who shared his good days and bad days.She was with him at all times.

One day their lives changed forever, as an unforeseen illness consumed his lovely wife.Life support, ventilators, kidney failure, and loss of both legs did not deter her strength and courage to survive the 3% chance given her.After awhile reality set in, and the quality of life was diminished for the old man and his lady.

Family members became more distant. The children went their separate ways, leaving the couple to cope with an uncertain future.

As the sun rises, two angelic figures appear on the wall.The shadow is now gone forever.A flock of white doves lands in the plush green grass of the backyard.