Me, what's left

While walking out I saw a farmer plowing,
and at once I could see that he was cowaring.
I said "Dear man what is wrong?"
and he answered, "What once was me is now gone."
"Well some of me I'll give to you,
and then even the night won't seem so blue;
but just a little, for you see,
then there's enough for you and me.
All i ask is for you to stay a while,
and chat and share a simple smile
to keep me company,
for life's a sad journey to travel lonely."
But, oh he looked at me quite perplexed,
good heavens me, he was vexed.
"Now I say theres time no more
to sit and chat when I've got such chore.
Theres planting and harvesting to be done,
and a minute to spare, I have none."
"Well then, I guess I'll just be on my way,"
was all I could bring myself to say.
I journey forth, but just a little less of me,
because I had given away a part so foolishly.
So I walk a little lighter,
but my soul seems a little quieter.
A single tear ran down my cheek,
But I have to move on, I've got a journey to seek.

Now's not the time for rest.
Those who continue on will surely be blessed.
This thought and no more keeps me going,
Becuase there's just a little less for showing.
So once more I journey on,
And now I see a tired mother on her lawn:
Watching as her children grow.
She seemed a little tired of their show.
I stopped to ask if she was well,
and then her bossom began to swell.
"I've lost all in my offspring
and have nothing left of me for the offering."
Oh! to hear the pain in her voice,
to know this life was not her choice.
"Oh dear woman, come close and see
you can have a little part of me.
Just a pinch, because it seems
that losing me is not only a fear in my dreams."
"Maybe just a pinch plus one more,
for i am quite poor."
"Then just a pinch plus one more,
and that is all I implore."
"Oh, but what about my baby?
She has been quite sick as of lately.
Surely theres quite enough
to spare for those whose life is rough."
My heart ached to see the poor child.
So I gave a little more, with spirits mild.
"Now dear lady, for the gift of me,
I'm sure you can spare time for pleasantry.
All I ask is to share a smile,
and perhaps chat in good company, for just a while"
"My dear, I wish on the stars that I could,
but continue on your journey I think you should.
You cannot reach your destination
if all you do is this chatty contemplation."
So i carried on as the woman said,
But a single tear did i shed.

I carried on, as i should,
and found myself in a quiet nieghborhood.
Then came aross me two lovers in youth;
They saw me from the kissing booth.
The girl she asked, "Where have you come from?"
And the boy added, "Of yourself, can you spare some?
We cannot make it through the night,
because our parents think it not right."
"Oh pittible youth, do you think it wise
to go against wishes of parents and then dispise
them for the want of each other?
Surely this is not true, but are you soon to be a mother?"
Poor girl, she blushed at this.
But i told her, "Of your past we shan't remaniss.
Oh dear children but you are
to take on a world so long and far!"
"So just a little of you to spare?
Is there any for us to share?"
The boy, or father, had asked me this,
and he gave me a look I could not dismiss.
"Here take what you need,
but do not take out of greed.
There is not much left to me
not much at all, as you can see."
"Oh we kindly thank you;
we were not left with anything else to do."
"Yes, that I can see,
but now I ask you to do something for me.
Just sit right here and chat a while,
maybe share a little smile.
For I have traveled long and hard
and my pace is begining to retard."
The would be parents then answered,
"Surely we would love to, but that is completley absurd,
For we must go on in this time of trial,
so we cannot stay a while"
Youth and their dreams,
Mixed with childhood and crazy schemes.
So they took another part of me.
I was not much left to see.
But a single tear did I shed
as the young lovers fled.

What once was wholely complete
Is appearing to be obsolete.
But carry on as I must,
For if I stop, I'd surely rust.
I walked a little slower than I should,
but it was as fast as the remnants could.
"Why do you walk so slowly?"
Said a voice quite lowly.
I turned round and saw an old man.
He had a badge in his only lonely hand.
"Sir if it concerns you--
Ah but it matters not what I say or do."
But he said "Come and sit and stay a while."
I looked at him and gave a simple smile.
"Old man, I've given away nearly all of me on my journey
to those who took me selfishly.
And now it's hard to carry on,
when so much of me is gone."
"Look," said he as he raised up his arm
"No hand on here, it is gone.
What once was me,
is not here, you see.
I too have had parts of me taken selfishly,
and found myself journying endlessly.
This piece of metal shapen cannot replace a lost hand,
but it represents the journeyed land."
He polished the badge on his sleeve,
and told me things hard to believe.
"I've fought battles and done grusome deeds,
and my path had grown covered in weeds.
A little less of you does not mean an incomplete you,
Even if it did, you must journey through.
And the journey is a little longer,
but that makes you stronger.
The path grows grassy and gets harder to see,
Not a thing will let you be.
At the end it will all end the same way,
So journey on for another day."
He kissed the badge and handed it to me,
And looked on fondly.
"Old wars rage on in the minds of old men;
Old memories take twists and bend.
Now this is not ment to offend,
but dear, soon even you can learn to mend.
All is well now, and carry on,
For life's a journey, and sometimes long."
But a single tear came to his eye,
and he sighed as he gazed at the sky.