The Stranger

I sat across a stranger, his eyes so bright,

When I look into his eyes I swear, it's like looking into a light.

His voice was so deep and he was so tall,

I wondered how my mother knew him at all.

He told me he traveled to many places,

And he seen so many races.

He said "Whatever races you think you know there are,"

"It is not half, not half by far."

We talked and talked so fast and so light,

We talked a lot and well into the night.

"Wow" I said "I want to be just like you," 

"I want to travel to many places, I want to see a lot of faces too."

"Well." He said. "I'm not perfect you see,"

"I ran away from a mother and her child when he was just three."

"I worked a lot everyday."

"That was one of the reasons I ran away."

"Your mother and I we fought a lot,"

"We fought about so many silly things, I simply forgot."

"Then one day, I couldn't take it no more,"

"So I packed up my things and head out the door."

"So please do not  be like me,"

"Do not run away from a mother and her child when he's just three."

"Treat your loved ones with respect and with love."

"Treat them higher than the rest, up above.

"Please, remember everything I say,"

"I'm real sorry for what I've done, please don't wish me away."

I said, "I will remember what you say."

He smiled, stood up and wish me a good day.

"Wait." I said " I will forgive, but not forget,"

"But I have one more question, am I your biggest regret?"

He smiled, a smile so small.

He said, "No, you are not, my son, not at all."

He left that room, that cold December.

He sure is a man I will simply remember.