Where the Tears Go

Ten thousand days, perhaps more

Now faded forever

Since he first enlightened this lyricist

Guiding my vestal quill

Through undiscovered lands

With the poise of Gandalf

Proffering just enough to arouse one more query

The old man stood bent at the waist

The autumn of his life declared by the deep lines upon his face

His hands unable to conceal a never-ending tremble

He has always appeared ancient to my youth-filled gaze

Silver hair with amber tips

Bespectacled eyes behind thick glass

A wooden cane never leaving his grip

The morning sun greets our kinship

As I help him to our old park bench

Quietly we share the new dawn

I speak first

As oft I do,

Nay, as I always have

I pose my question,

"Where do tears go when they depart my eyes?"

I know they wander down my cheeks

When my emotions I cannot disguise

So, tell me dear sir,

"Where do tears go when they depart my eyes?"

Without a word, he looks at me

A glimpse of sadness breaks upon his face

For he already knows the reason of my query

The healer’s words had no hope to lend

The cancerous centaur

Laughed at the toxic elixir

Spreading its tentacles

Tendering deadly kisses

It seems my time here, is nearing the end

He spoke to me with an ancient whisper

A slithering smile slowly began to appear

He spoke as a teacher

A prophet

A friend

"You have nothing to fear

Soon you will stand in the place He prepared for you

There you will see the glorious truth-

Tears never die or go away

They turn to mist

To be used another day"

"Soon you will understand

He knows every tear that has ever dared to fall

And He will stretch out His hand

And gently wipe them all

That my young friend

Is where the tears go"