The old man sat
nearly motionless
pen to paper laid
head slightly bent
as the young man
stepped from nowhere
with menace in his hands

"Give me all your words,
the ones with the patina"
"ones that when rubbed, shine
brightly in our dim light."
"the ones to touch a soul,
ones that give life meaning"
"I have a family to feed,
I have children and a wife,
who look to me for sustenance."

The old man sat listening
hunched as he was by time
and said nothing for a while.
"Put your threat down...
sit here beside me and I
will show you all that
you ask for."

The young did as he was bade
and sat to the right
as the elder began to speak
"All my words and the deeds
they proclaim are here
in my hand, as they were
before I even was aware
of deeds, let alone words."

"All you threaten to do
in life is within you,
now, the riches you desire,
to be a good provider."
"The vanity of wisdom
was told well by Solomon
and always within your reach."

Lightened and repurposed,
"Thank you" the young man said
as he rose to resolutely
continue, and the elder man
bent is head slightly down
and let go his pen.

© agoodguy2have 2011-06-07