Untitled Poem by Edward J. Sudol

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE YEARS? I ASK,
HE SAID "FOR EVERYTHING A TIME"
WHERE ARE MY FRIENDS OF LONG AGO?
HE SAID" BEYOND THE HILL YOU CLIMB'".
WHY ARE MY FOOTSTEPS SLOWER NOW?
HE SAID " TIS ALL WITHIN THE PLAN"
BUT WHAT OF ALL MY HOPES AND DREAMS?
HE SAID"THEY MELLOWED WITH THE MAN"

BUT THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO
HE SAID "BE GRATEFUL FOR TODAY"
THE ROAD TO HEAVEN SEEMS SO LONE
HE SAID " THERE IS NO OTHER WAY"
BUT WHAT OF ALL THE THINGS I NEED?
HE SAID "AND DO I NOT PROVIDE?
SOMETIMES I EVEN GROW AFRAID,
HE SAID "I'M ALWAYS AT THY SIDE"

MY PURSE IS THIN MY COINS ARE FEW,
HE SAID " SUFFICIENT FOR THE DAY"
AND OFTENTIMES I'M WRONGLY JUDGED
HE SAID " CARE NOT WHAT OTHERS DAY"
OH TO BE PEACEFUL AND SECURE,
HE SAID " ALL THINGS ARE THINE IN ME"
MY CROSS GROWS HEAVY WITH THE MILES
HE SAID " I'LL LIFT IT PRESENTLY"

THE FUTURE LOOKS SO BLEAK AND GREY,
HE SAID " TIS DARKEST FORE THE DAWN"
BUT WHO WILL SHARE MY LONELY WAY?
HE SAID "YOU'VE ME TO LEAN UPON
NO LOVE SO LASTING AS MY OWN,
NO POWER GREATER THAN MY HAND
FOR YOU BELONG TO ME, AND THIS
IS ALL YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND"