The Promise of the Old Man -

Where once you stood tall, you will stand bent and crippled
Where once they gave you titles of every colour, they will not know your name
Where once you walked amongst men, many hours in stillness you will sit
Yet few will ask now for your wisdom
and you will see more than to offer it.
But to remember the promises of youth,
though many friends have dived along the way -
you gave a commitment, not to them, but for you.
to see it through to the end of the day.
For to embrace the old man, is to know what it was to be the boy.