"Oh young man, pray what have ye seen?"

"Well sir, I have seen much.
I’ve seen death and life, witnessed trials and strife,
I’ve seen smiles and tears, laughter and faces full of fear,
Some coming some going. Of those dear to me."


"Oh young man, pray what have ye heard?"

"Well sir, I have heard much.
I’ve heard people crying from joy and pain, and those not treated the same,
I’ve heard songs of praise and despair, a million voices everywhere,
And those silent voices calling. That need to be heard."


"Oh young man, pray what have ye touched?"

"Well sir, I have touched so much.
I’ve touched hearts, and changed lives in part,
I’ve felt so many emotions, and wrote about them when I felt the notion,
A pen to paper. And how it just flows."


"Oh young man, pray what have ye smelled?"

"Well sir, there are many things to smell.
I’ve smelled the clean of a spring shower, smelled greed and corrupting power,
I’ve inhaled the smell of the breeze, flowers and things like these,
And memory of mother’s meals. Those childhood days."


"Oh young man, pray what have ye tasted?"

"Well sir, there is much I have tasted.
I’ve tasted bitterness of defeat and death, my wrongs and the regret,
I’ve tasted sweet spring, and the joy of summer. Sing!
The flavors of life. And love among them."


"Oh young man, pray what have ye known?"

"Well sir, I have known some.
I’ve known loss, and love, and family that fits like a glove,
I’ve known hopelessness and grief, forgiveness and belief,
And nobody is perfect. We all have faults."


"Oh young man, pray what have ye learned?"

"Well sir, I continue to learn.
I’ve learned that disaster isn’t tragic, and miracles aren’t magic,
I can smile with my heart and eyes, yet still not learned if I’m a fool or wise,
Success never comes easy. It’s never without trial."


"And oh young man, pray what have ye realized?"

"Well sir, I am constantly in the middle of realizing something else.
That there is one thing that doesn’t change: life is always different it never stays the same,
I realize now that life is so much more and waiting just outside our own front door,
Seek first to love and understand. Then to be loved and understood."


"And oh young man, I have learned too...

As you learn from me, so I from you.

Learn from the world and experience all that you can.

Open your senses and take in all that you can!

For life is a journey, a path, and a road...

Now: do what you can and teach what you have been showed!"