One day while I was
Waiting for the bus a
Mysterious old man hobbled up and
Slumped down beside me.

His face was adorned with a scraggly white beard, and
His eyes were a cold, icy blue.
He had a far-away look
In his eyes; he was looking
Into the future somewhere.

Then, he slowly shifted and
Turned his cold stare on me, and he
Stared and
Stared and
Stared.
?
He was tranquil for what seemed like
Years, then
I inquired -

What?

I soon discovered that
His gaze was not for
Me;
It was directed at
A single, perfect, ruby red
Rose.

A Rose that had been
Planted and apparently
Forgotten.

I looked at the rose for
A minute or so. Its petals were as red as a
Cherry; its thorns were as sharp as a
Spear. Its leaves were the color of fresh
Grass.

?
I looked back at the man. His
Expression had not changed from his
Cold,
Lifeless,
Stare.
Then, as he continued to gaze towards the rose,
the ice in his eyes began to
Melt.
His expression thawed,
And his stiff posture
Eased.

No longer did he parallel a
Frozen corpse,
But a warm,
Caring,
Wise,
Old man.

Amazing are the wonders of
This world we live in; shame that
We do not
P a u s e
To enjoy it.