“There is a great mighty fire that burns in every heart.'
Said the old man.
'Let it out.
Burn your soul freely in-
to the coming night.”

'There is a little,  however little
child of laughter Interred
In every sad smile.'
said the old man.
'Let it out
Laugh out a'loud
Smile proudly,
For there is a gift you won't always have!”

“Now...

Said  he to me,

“Now borrow a bright-lit smile from every daylight
And learn to laugh
as the rumble of  a shattering thunder
For life is a gift you won't always have! '

He turned around and went his way.
I never saw him again.
It was a night dream
In my 11 and 45 a.m.

I lay there,
broken, AWAKE In some transfixed  wonderment!