Hitchin Thru Town
Earlier that day I saw him hitching into town,
Down by the creek I saw him again sitting on the ground.
My curiosity won over as I walked to where he sat,
I gave him my name and offered my hand, he shook and said just call me Pat.
He said I come from up state not too far from here,
Just couldn’t take it any longer since I lost my wife Claire.
He said it’s pretty hard to catch a ride nowadays,
He said people are scared but I remember when it wasn’t that way.
He opened his bag and showed me a picture of his wife,
Said been together since kids that old gal was my life.
Tears came to his eyes and I saw his old jaws get tight.
Said he just couldn’t stand staring at her grave was the reason he took flight.
He said you’ll never know how you’ll feel,
Till the situation turns real.
Said then you get all knotted up and feel sick inside,
He said you want to scream and you want to run but there is nowhere to hide.
He said mister I’m sorry for dumping my problems on you,
He said I appreciate you listening really I do.
I invited him to the house but he said he must leave,
He was a man who was hurting and this was how he could grieve.
I waved as he walked off and headed down the street,
He was the kindest old gentlemen you’d ever want to meet.
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