Down South At Atlantic Beach With Michael Poem by Bryan Taplits

Once long ago
Through sand and snow
We sought our breakfast table,
We were strong-
So lasted long-
For we both were young and able.


We rode some rides, and swam the tides,
As heroes in a fable.
The two of us-
Yes, we were tough-
no rust on us-
For we were young and able.

But then came those later years
that piled on new fears
we'd never seen before,
Our once regal reign-
hobbled now in crutches and pains-
As we hunched before our final door.

But before entering on the final brink-
That threshold where eternity
fed,
Stubbornly, we fought the pains-
As we revisited passed gains-
From episodes
of an ambivalent set.

As I lie awake-and my heart starts to quake-
I recall the times long before,
I think I sleep-
My thoughts are deep-
And my dreams are of that final door.

So,
thank you, dear God,
for all those good times
I shall never eternally surpass-
And thank you, dear God,
For all those regrettable times
that now I'm able to forget.