I saw an old man, standing in the sand, with cane in hand, staring out at the horizon,

I asked of him what his thoughts were about,

He stared at me with a sigh and a smile.

I’m one hundred and three as i look to the sea,

I’ve outlived my wife and family.

I’ve had a life, seen many wonderful things,

Now an old man, old as the trees.

I say old man! what is it like to be one hundred and three,?

I don’t know, I only know what it’s like to be me.

I asked of him, would you wish to again be a child,?

He replied, my only wish is to again see my wife’s smile.

I asked to him an old man, What’s the greatest thing you have done in such a lifetime,?

His words to me were this, I married a beautiful wife, I walked with her in the sand,

I saw her smile, and now here i stand.

Keith Garrett

Spring and Summer, away from the city, the noise,

Away to the country, thoughts of a place, a farm.

Rise to the morning sun, pancakes and eggs,

Out with the horses as the day begins with a smile.

A days work and a little play might be just fine,

Lunch and a dream on a haystack beneath the blue sky.

On the farm there are many animals of sort, sounds,

A time in the country, life on the farm.

The sun is setting, this country day just about done,

Supper is cooking, time to settle for the night.

Out on the porch, a guitar and a fiddle,

A song and a dance, all gather together.

Mother dancing, father in a place of relaxing pleasure,

Not a pipe will be smoked, possibly a shot of rum in hand.

Life on the farm, dreamed up in my head,

One by one all will disappear, out goes the light, time for bed.

Keith Garrett

              Walk the streets from dawn till dusk,

              Wandering this world of concrete land.

             Under a freeway is where i might sleep,

          A pillow of rock or in the dirt, behind a tree.

               I hold onto a name but who will care,

          Not so much of a man to those whom stare.

                   Bathe in a hole of water not clean,

   I have a heart and feelings though some may not see.

                I have only a home of where i might sit,

          There are times that i beg to keep myself alive.

           Dirty clothes, if i’m lucky a face clean shaved,

            One day where i rest will be heaven so clear.

              I’ll no longer be dead in this hell that i fear,

                    A nowhere man fore that’s who i am.

        How have i come to be here, hard to understand.

               Keith Garrett  

     Thump, thump, hear the sound that makes the world go around,

Feel the pounding of its rhythm, the drum beats hard, the heart beats fast.

Listen to the drum beat that lives inside, listen to music, the drum beat cries

Boom, boom, echoes through the sky, thunder is the drum, it beats out loud.

Wait for the rumbling as the shaking earth trembles with an awesome fear,

Bang, bang, listen as the sleeping child’s heart comes to life in the dark night.

Bombs and gunfire sing through the war beaten land, thump, thump,

The drum beats slow, the drum beats fast, a mothers terror as her son dies.

The dancing boxer, hard hit as he is dropped to the floor, beat of his heart,

Thump, thump, boom, boom, goes his heart like the drum beat so slow.

Listen to the drum beat, too the sound of wandering feet, like a drum,

A first breath of life, a slower, and slower beat of the fading, going away.

Keith Garrett

              She stands there dressed in a gown of white satin,

          On her feet, soft shoes that sparkle in the light, tonight.

        Her hair made up like a princess at a ball, she’s beautiful,

       Awaiting her handsome escort as he moves out on the floor.

   Dressed up in a tailored made suit of black, he stares into her eyes,

        Taking her hand as the music echoes into this magical night.

     Around and around they bounce and sway, waltz a lovers waltz,

        These two become one as their body’s dance a lovers dance.

      Romance is in the air for two hearts searching loves mystery,

      A waltz for lovers, a night like no other, a love between two.

                 Keith Garrett

Dressed up in black, not to loud, driving down the road,

Music in my head, the boss sings out a tune, i’m driving.

Sunglasses to match this beautiful machine of black,

Eyes wandering, scenery passing by as i ride, dreaming.

In a black car driving, I’m moving down the road to you,

In a black car driving, eyes fixed on the horizon, driving.

With the window down i can feel the wind, listen to the sound,

My dreaming mind takes me to you, the way to you is complicated.

Down the road as you are not so far away, just a touch away,

A smile shows through on your face, everyday this way.

Keith Garrett

              She has a smile of soft Innocence, she reads, sits does she,

            Hair so light that it hides in the shade, what do her eyes say.?

           A voice i hear each morning as its sound is of a beautiful song,

      This beauty goes by a name of mystery to a stranger, a face she sees.

        Sometimes by herself, alone dreams of wishes known only to her,

          Together with a friend laughing about moments in life, friends.

    This nameless face of beauty rests in a chair but so much living ahead,

    From the past there were faces, expressions like the ones she possesses.

    I am a man of many thoughts, tell to me your story and i will hear you.

               Keith Garrett 

You were standing by your mama, you were just a little girl,

Backwards the wind takes my thoughts into what you as a

   Small child could be, a little girl named Barbara Jean.

In you still lives this dreaming young spirit that flew forward,

The wind and time has carried you, such a wonderful mother

Here to where you still wander and dream, you Barbara Jean.

You are just days older, everyday one day older than yesterday,

Stand you still do as always your mama watches over you.

Not there was i for each of your childish birthdays, no not yet,

For all the ones you would celebrate would bring us together sooner.

I believe in my wishes and dreams that you are younger than yesterday,

With much love from a son whom says thank you to a girl named Barbara Jean.

For you mom,

Keith                                                                       Keith Garrett

In flight, searching for hope of a better today,

Into the sun, across the wide open ocean below.

The sky has many colors today, look to the sky,

A seagull soaring up so high, through the earths window.

                Freedom to wander, too fly, why can’t i fly up so high,

               Everything is seeking in search of answers of their own. 

As a bird in flight, a man walks the road,

In search of his own Independence of where he belongs.

Keep searching.

Keith Garrett

               I write poetry and stories, If you would like to respond or just

               Speak about things then e-mail me at keithkungfutwo@gmail.com

                    Keith