****
'Come and See'
the sign said,
that and nothing more,
not even an exclamation point,
just three simple words nailed to a board
on a dead-end road in the middle of nowhere,
hung by a quiet little man in shabby old clothes
and worn-out slippers,
selling strips of his soul for a penny—
and not a penny more,
a priceless bargain,
at a bargain price
(if truth be told).
A tiny wooden table
and a creaky old chair,
had this quiet little man,
with the quiet little stare
where he sat all
A
L
O
N
E
day after day,
year after year—
waiting in sun, snow, and rain,
through joy, sorrow, and pain,
longing for someone,
anyone would do,
who might
come and see
a deeper shade of True.
Yet no one did come,
and no one did see,
for no one had a care
about this quiet little man,
with the quiet little stare,
selling strips of his soul for a penny—
now a penny a pair,
until at length,
he ran out of strength,
and stooped weary and low,
with so little to show—
if only someone would
come and see,
that would be enough
to find bliss and harmony,
finally.
So he waited,
patiently.
But it didn't really matter,
no one never ever came,
no one never ever saw,
it was forever and ever the same,
THE SAME! THE SAME!
Forever and ever the same
the same the same.
...Anyway...
Many still say,
down to this very day,
that he's still there—
W
A
I
T
I
N
G
all by himself
this quiet little man,
with the quiet little stare.
****
___
PDW
December 2024
Dry Grove, Il