Old Boat

The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor

of old men is their gray head.

Proverbs 20:29

Like the man
Who once rowed you

Out onto the sparkling surface of the lake,

You have been turned upside down

You are topsy-turvy;

Your out-going’s have been sideswiped.

You never thought you would sit so long

You might feel—if you felt—forgotten, unneeded, unused,

Bypassed for younger livelier models

Your paint peels; you have learned to

Accept dents and spots of rust

But you should know we recall

Days when you hosted fishermen and fisher-boys.

With laughter and conversations,

Along with squeals of delight

Echoing out across the water.

We recall how lovely a blue you used to be;

We remember quiet trips out on the moonshiny lake.

Now we remember and treasure the memories

Still, you make us smile and laugh

We still feel safe knowing you are here.

Like your owner, with family sheltered in his heart;

You shelter still, if only a rabbit on a cold day.

Like your owner, you can never be replaced

Though newer models come

To help with some of the hauling and carrying.

Those dents and bits of rust and peeled paint

Like his scars, age spots, and wrinkles

Only makes you, like him, more precious to us

They tell the stories of your life;

They show the measure of your days

Your worth immeasurable,
As his.