Wisdom

I stood once
in front of the ocean
the waves seemed to creak
back and forth
like the rolling of
an old man's rocking chair
I've been told
that wisdom comes
with age
and I said to the sea
"What of life and death - love and hate?
fear and me and he and fate?
Am I too early? Am I too late?"
I listened closely
for an answer
and after a spell
the sea seemed to chuckle
and all I could hear was
"Shhhhhhhhhh . . . "

Poem is (C)opyright 1997, Helen. Reproduction in any form is prohibited by law.