There’s a man I greet each morning,

At the rising of the sun,

We nod in solemn acknowledgement,

When our day has just begun.

We rarely speak to each other,

Just take in a quick and quiet gaze,

How many years have we done this?

At the starting of our days.

But lately I’ve been noticing,

Some changes in the gent,

He’s lost his youthful vigor,

And I wonder where it went.

I note the deepening lines,

That gather ‘round his eyes,

I note his unspoken introspection,

And I hear his drawn out sighs.

His hair on top is thinning,

And his cheeks they seem to sag,

I see some darkening spots upon his skin,

And his motion seem to lag.

I wonder how it happened,

And how sudden it all seems,

I recall his earlier moments,

When he had fewer worries and oh so many dreams.

I watch him scrape the foam and silver,

From off his knobby chin,

He seems to realize what I’m thinking,

As he gives me a knowing grin.

“You know you’re burning daylight!”

We then say together,

As I glance out the nearby window,

One last check upon the weather.

Then one last quick inspection,

Of my friend there in the glass,

As we turn our backs upon each other,

And go to our daily tasks.