Friendly Advice

On a warm spring day,
I set out on my hike.
Pushing harder,
I needed to make some space.
I desired distance,
From the bells and chimes,
Of every day life.
I wouldn't go far,
Just enough to have silence.
Seeking some peace,
In a crazy mixed up world.
As the sun rose higher,
I stumbled into town.
Was it a town?
There were few buildings,
All in mild disrepair.
Where were the people,
I wondered as I walked on.
My head had began to ache,
My throat as dry as the land around me.
Looking up I saw it then,
The lonely building on the hill.
Music played softly,
Rippling out the door.
Drifting down,
Pulling me upward.
Drawing me into the light,
I stepped to the doorway.
A lone man at the piano,
His hands gliding across the keys.
He hardly seemed to touch them,
As he sang along.
I stood there in silence,
Not wanting him to stop.
The melody carrying me,
Into the empty room.
As if sensing me he turned,
And looked me up and down.
"Good day little lady,
Travelling far today?"
He asked me with a smile.
A sweep of his hat,
A slight gentle touch.
Without a word,
He went to the bar,
Filled up a mug,
And slid it into my hands.
He asked me of my name,
I told him without thought.
He asked of life and home,
I echoed I had none.
Work had become life,
Home a distant place.
Friends and family left,
To build wealth and acclaim.
He listened without pause,
Never breaking in.
Then when I was finished,
He answer from his heart.
His hat held in his hand,
His stare off into the distance.
Told me of nights under the stars.
Of being out for weeks,
And rushing home to her.
A love he's always treasure,
A piece of him he'd lost.
The regrets of always leaving,
And days he'd foolishly missed.
He told me as he bowed his head,
To treasure every day.
For time would pass so quickly,
Without warning to slow down.
"Tell those that you cherish,
The value that they have.
Never once forget,
The ones who hold your heart.
Wealth can be fleeting,
And fame will fade away.
But you home and family are special,
Only they will mourn when you go."
With that he took my mug,
And turned and walked away.
I watched a moment more,
As he sat and played again.
The tune now haunting,
Following me out the door.
I stopped just outside,
And breathed the air in anew.
I turned to thank him,
But found an empty room.
No piano, no man,
Just a single dusty bar.
A tear slid down my face,
And I bowed my head to pray.
Thank you Lord,
For the Angel you sent,
To wake me up today.