Along a mountain-path
we met--after fifty long years-
it began to rain and we took shelter
in a derelict shed. Then the downpour
came almost drowning our voices.
It was early evening-how could I forget?

I said to him: '  It's fate
that brought us together.
I come here when the weight
of living oppresses. I need
to make sense of the why of things.
Where are you going?
(He had with him just an old tiny suitcase).

He looked at me
and held me spellbound
even before he spoke-
such penetrating eyes
and the mark of pain
I sensed in his pale face
(he paused and then said
in a quiet almost inaudible way):

'   Look, you can see
   the monastery over there
   that's to be my home. I've made
   a vow to become a monk-
   I've found at last the way
  to live for my remaining days'.

  But why? I did ask.

  '  Suffering of the world
    I couldn't bear--
    hunger, starvation, illness
    war-stricken men, women
    and children--man-created
   destruction is everywhere
   mankind is but a face of despair
   and I've run short of tears
   in a lost wilderness of my own
   for so many long years-
   if there were hope at all left
   that to me would be love
   and prayer'

   Before I could speak
    on my shoulder he touched me
   and these were his parting words:
  '  I'll be in the monastery
     and you'll be outside
     but both you and me
     will be one in heart
     by love, compassion and selflessness
    we'll  be set free'.

    The rain had stopped
    my friend continued his journey
   as the mist gave way.