Just The Old Man

All you see is the crazy old man,
Hobbling down the street,
"Oh he's nuts" they all say to you,
"Not one you want to meet."

Go up to the man, introduce yourself,
Ask him about his day,
Laugh with him and smile with him,
It's all you need do or say.

To brighten this man's entire life,
Who knows what your smile could do,
Perhaps bring joyous memories,
Of a wife he long ago knew.

Or maybe remind him of what he's done,
The accomplishments you don't know,
The kids, the war, the priesthood,
The love, the tears, the flow.

The four kids that he alone raised,
The two that died with his wife,
The one that disappeared evermore,
The other endures endless strife.

The war he bravely fought and won,
The dying friends he held,
The endless nights of hunger and cold,
Through beatings those thoughts he withheld.

The priesthood he held for twenty more years,
Blessing the starving kids,
In countries farthest away from home,
He knew their lives would soon end.

The love he had for his beautiful wife,
The powerful union they shared,
The love that lives on even today,
For no other will he ever care.

The tears that were shed for so many souls,
For fights and problems unknown,
The tears that still come every now and again,
Into his heart they are sewn.

The flow of his life, where he finds warmth,
Though most is rocky and cold,
The twists and turns that only he knows,
The drops that will never be told.

This crazy old man, the one they call nuts,
Is the wisest that you'll ever see,
They all reject him; he's always alone,
And alone he would always be.

But you came to him, and told him your name,
Smiled your friendly hello's,
Made him remember who he was,
The man that no longer shows.

A father, a soldier, a man of God,
A survivor of steadfast love,
A man that's strong enough to cry,
He was once dreamt of.

*(Can't decide if i want this stanza or not)*
You've changed his life, his last few months,
He now won't be lonely and cold,
He'll share his stories and wisdom,
All because of a smiled hello.