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Literature & Fiction

"When the student is ready, the master shall appear." I have always been fascinated by the Kung-Fu type thing where this old man comes out of nowhere and passes his knowledge on to some new disciple. I got to thinking, however. What if the vessel wasn't capable of holding it all? What if what kept the old man young enough to travel was the willingness to do so, and what killed the young man was just lying there listening instead of joining the old man in his travels...or setting off on his own.

What the Old Man Taught

"Old man, your walk shows many years"
Said a young man to an older.
"No doubt you've seen most wondrous things,"
He spoke, still soft, yet growing bolder

"Impatient youth, please rest a while."
The ragged ancient pleaded.
"That would be best for legs so old."
Beneath a tree they soon were seated

Long there beside the road they sat,
The aged traveler and the younger,
As tales unfolded day and night,
To fan and and feed the young man's hunger

As days passed on, the youth grew older
And still the old man's songs were sung,
Which told of wonders seen and heard,
Since far off days when he was young

The day came when the young man died
His cup not yet one quarter filled.
The old man gathered staff and cloak,
And turned his steps towards distant hills.

Donovan Baldwin

About The Author
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Donovan Baldwin is a Dallas area writer. A University Of West Florida alumnus (1973) with a BA in accounting, he is a member of Mensa and has held several managerial positions. After retiring from the U. S. Army in 1995, he became interested in internet marketing and developed various online businesses. He has been writing poetry, articles, and essays for over 40 years, and now frequently publishes articles on his own websites and for use by other webmasters. He has blogs on the subjects of senior health and fitness, and hybrid cars and alternative fuels.

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