Conversation with the Aged, poem by Peter Menkin posted by Peter Menkin, FullFriday, June 26th 2009 @ 9:26 PM (not yet rated)    post viewed 997 times

Conversation with aged
by Peter Menkin

I recite a long Psalm,
119,
beginning as a confession
but lending my thoughts
and opening my heart.

Be gentle to memory: of failure
to seek God, and desire good
creates a long list of weakness
and mindless concerns that ignore
God--for so many years.

The old ones I talk with as I read, speak
of their youth, and I think
"Is this what is on their minds?"
So I soothe and open my heart
to let in healing to younger times
in my life. Even to childhood.

I say words for them, these old people, and
for others:
It is in the thought before the words,
in the mind before the thought,
present in the heart, and I listen,
always desiring to hear.
This talk with old people
leads me to gentleness with myself.
This is their message.

They say to me, "I am living
so long. I hardly think about it."

I continue my reading

Psalm 119.

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