The Men Along The Way

The Men Along The Way

Along the way sat my friends and I
The path traveled daily by many
We pitched our tent to sit or lie
And watch passers-by, our only company

Many men passed, some gave a bow
Most were neat and wore a smile
Few were lost with thoughts of how
In so little time they would cover another mile

Two men passed, not together
So different, yet so the same
Their ways and words made us bother
One was wild, the other a little too tame

One was dressed as though he was a woman
The other laughed loud, though he looked sad
They ate merrily from dirty cans
And were what you and I will call mad

My friends and I shook our heads in pity
They must have smoked hemp, one suggested
Or sniffed cocaine like they do in the city
We laughed so loud, our tent shifted

One heard us and came closer
“Young men”, he bowed and saluted
Would you still laugh if I were your brother?
I never smoked hemp like you suggested

I am afflicted with what you call madness
But the doctor says this of my affliction
“Like fever, it is a simple illness
And will be cured with correct medication”

These words of his I ponder still
As I meet such a man again today
Whose ways and words say he’s just a little ill
Like the men we met along the way.

Culled from the soon to be published collection "Beauty And The Death" (c) Oyeleke Toye 2005

there's nothing wrong with your poem
personally i just think its too long
people not responding because they're busy