The Old Man Poem by Sergio D'Amico

I met a man down by the sea,
he seemed as old as time can be
I asked him his name,
but he just shook his head,
so I asked him twice again.
He sat and smiled in a silent mock,
constant as the ticking of a clock,
chased into the the darkness of the night,
it steals away my time,
always ahead, an imperishable pride.
I sat next to him and fell asleep
Only to slumber into a world of dreams
With strange visions poisoning my sleep.
The path was narrow as I crossed the strait,
not knowing if I was strong in faith,
for I heard the scream of colours,
voice their hues of flowers,
shedding petals of innocence,
sinking softly into decadence.
I saw notes of music,
written upon a scarlet tunic,
dance their way across a field of sadness,
guiding me towards the extreme origin of madness.
A cupid missed his mark by far,
and killed a heart once destined to love,
I saw Angels fly but they had no wings,
as they circled round in rings.
A mother breath fire onto her child,
whilst the daughter gazed with delight,
The sun blew a frost wind,
leaving all it's flames behind.
The darkness shed it's stars by night
one by one they fell from great height,
and the skies rested onto the sea,
and all my friends came to see.
Never in my wildest dream,
could I picture this derelict scene.
In the middle of the sea stood a rock,
like a mystery which time seemed unable to unlock,
surrounded by many an oceans wave
where stars sank into their grave.
There I stopped and took my seat,
and a heavenly warmth came to greet.
It took some time for me to realize,
that an Angel was sitting by my side,
but I had to move away for I was
overtaken with pride.
Her hair darker than this starless night,
her skin as pure as the brightest light,
her lips the colour of a robin's tress,
her voice when heard my ears caress'.
From her eyes came a shine that pales the sun,
and over my heart she had won.
I felt Warmth and beauty make their descent,
forever captured in a flower and it's scent.
Her wings spread and throned the skies,
which started to turn as pale as white,
the stars from the sea began to rise,
as heaven regained its lost prize.
The sea checked its waves to calm down,
and in this dream the moon lost its crown,
and in this dream no words could have expressed,
and in this dream my soul was possessed,
The best of day serves only to sway,
The best of night sitting by my side.

I saw the old man raise his hand to call me,
but I did not care to give him heed,
on the rock where time stood still,
this angel by my side, my own fill,
this is where I wanted to be,
this is where I will always be free.