A Cloud

The old man stands there
He watches time go by
The striking of a clock
The cawing of a crow
He watches the clouds
The moon and the stars
He knows where they go
And knows it's not far
He stands by the river
And sees the salmon
He stands by the fields
And sees the mice
He knows it won't stay
It will all fade away
When he closes his eyes
To rest forever more
He wishes not to go
He wishes not leave
He fears the beyond
More than he fears all else
A cloud passed by one day
And stopped for a moment to say
"My dear old man,
Why do you not rest?"
The old man contemplated
He stood day and night
When the cloud returned
The old man spoke
"My friend the gentle cloud,
You not as old as I am,
You have not seen all the bad."
The cloud thought for a moment
Then spoke once more.
"Old man, I have seen.
I watched a woman give birth.
I watched a soldier die.
I watched a boy hold a girl.
I watched a wish come true.
Do not say I don't know
The striking of a clock,
The cawing of a crow,
A struggling salmon,
A hungry field mouse,
Even the moon and stars.
Let time be, dear old man."
The man thought again.
He then looked at the cloud.
"I will let the flowing time be,
But for one promise to me.
Carry me up to sit with the stars.
That will be my death's delight."
The old man then lay himself down
His silvery blue eyes closed
His beating heart stopped
And he breathed his last breath.
The cloud scooped him up,
In her loving arms, and then,
She brought him up there he was,
Placed upon the brightest star,
To rest forever more.

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If it isn't sad to you, read it again. This time, think about each word. Don't concentrate on the mistakes, the flow, or anything else. Read it. Just it. And let it go through your heart, not you mind.