In Memory of all SKs who knew more

SK

Sun beams through the window
I sit with the elder
As he speaks to me
I listen intently
Trying to absorb
I know I will fail
I know I won’t remember it all
He smiles longingly
As he looks in the other room
His voice grows distant
His eyes unfocused
I watch in wonder
As he tells all he knows
As he tells of the history
I sit in awe listening still
He speaks so clearly
His words do not stumble
His tongue does not jumble
The words he speaks
Tell so much
Of history
Of love
Of friendship
He speaks of crystals
He speaks of keys
He speaks of operators
I yearn to learn more
But he sighs gently
As he comes back into reality
Looking upon me he smiles
Nodding his head
He tells me softly
“This is but a little
That I know
But I am tired now
I must go to sleep”
I nod and swallow heavily
I reach out
Intending to shake hands
But find myself hugging
The frail old man
Thanking him for his time
As I leave I glance at my watch
Three hours have passed
Since we began
I get in my new sports car
And look into the front window
Of the gentleman’s house
I see him stand
I see him walk away
So I leave to go home
I realize when I get home
My cell phone is
At the kind man’s house
So I get back in
My little red car
And drive back to
His old white farm house
I knock on the door
But I get no answer
I pound on the door
Still no answer
So I go around back
The door is unlocked
I let myself in
Terribly afraid
As I wander through the house
Searching for the
Gentle old man
I pass an old room
Where a weird sound
Is escaping
I push the door open
Only to find the man
A mike in his hand
His head on the table
And the radio on
Its face is bright
As words float into the air
The old man is smiling
So it seems
I rush to him
But I am too late
He hasn’t a pulse
I do my duty
And call for help
But inside I know
He died how he wanted to
Mike in the hand
Talking to a friend
On an old tube radio
For his hobby called Ham

© 2005, Heather L. Heininger