THE FARAWAY LOOK IN THE EYES OF THE OLD; IS FULL OF WISDOM; THINGS WE DON’T KNOW; THEY HAVE SHED MANY TEARS; THEY’VE CRINKLED IN SMILES; THEY HAVE SEEN BUMPY ROADS; AND MANY SMOOTH MILES; NO BOOKS CAN HOLD THE WISDOM THEY KNOW;
NO BOOKS EVER WILL; ONE DAY THAT FARAWAY LOOK WILL BE MINE; WHEN THEIRS ARE FOREVER STILL…
(c) 2009 Doris Zafra (Dot) pic of my parents.1981
Consider the lilies of the field… Matt 6:28
thedailylily.com 
Dot, this is a beautiful poem. As, I read it, I couldn’t help to think about my grandparents. What beautiful memories rushed to my mind as I read each word. Thank you for sharing your memory lane while bringing my memory lane back to life. May God bless you everyday as you make the memory lane of your life for your loved ones to one day share.
Thanks Sara
Hi Dot, so happy that you have joined the daily lily. I would like to introduce you to Chickenfarmer, (above) aka as Wendy. She lives outside of Edenton, NC, a nurse, married, two young sons. She also lived at one time in Manteo, NC.
And, Wendy, aka Chickenfarmer, Dot lives in Nags Head and I believe from around the Creswell, NC area.
Dot, I love your poetry. It bring reality to life.
Dot thank you for sharing your poetry. I enjoyed reading it. It’s like an insider’s look from the heart and gives a touching perspective we may not have thought about before.
Thanks to all of you for your sweet comments…
Dot, your work is poetic prose, a lovely vehicle that takes us, gently, from there to here, through the seasons of life, through ‘gardens of renown’ and through the “bumpy roads” of each generation. The wisdom is ancient, knowing, experienced but the spirit is the same….. young, youthful, vigorous still. It helps us to condifrt things that we had not considered in life, before. Your poetry reminds me of a saying I have heard….”I used to be different, but now I’m the same.”
Thank you for the insights.
Dot, as I re-read your poem in liturgical thought, I am reminded how we at times find gold in our memories.
Sara, you are insightful about how to consider our “memories”. We must glean the good and cast the rest behind us as Paul advised. When I think of recently-passed loved ones I realize that I have entered that stage of life where this will occur more and more in my life and the life of those around me whom I love and call friends. Not only family but the Friends in the Body of Christ. When I linger too long, it brings up emotions which are naturally given by God… BUT the lingering could become debilitating to moving forward if I consider them too long and too frequently. Surely, memories rise up, or I see something that reminds me of one I have loved, a relative, a friend. But I don’t have to dwell on it. I can honor it (them) and then move forward.
Like you have said above, ‘glean the GOLD’ and the rest, leave to the Lord God our Comfort and Consolation. There are glorious promises to pursue in His Word about love, life and eternity. I must GET ON WITH IT!!
Dot,
Welcome to thedailylily. Thanks for sharing your poem and pictures of your parents.
Dear Dot,
Thank you for such a beautiful poem of memory lane. I pray the far away look of the eyes hold many memories of how Jesus was there with each person in each valley and on top of each mountain. I knew a woman when I was raising my two young sons years and years ago who would sit by the pool and tell the story of all the troubles Jesus had brought her through and all the joys that He had brought her. I thought boy there is a woman of great wisdom so I stayed close by to hear her stories – stories of Jesus and his love in one woman’s life. Yes the depth of the eyes as we look upon the aged hopefully hold the wisdom of the Lord. Thank you again for sharing such a beautiful poem.
Dot,
I was admiring your profile picture. Is that your husband? Is he a chef? Where are you from? We are just happy to have you join thedailylily, and enjoy interacting with you.
Yes, and he was a chef for years…
I appreciate all the nice comments and sorry I haven’t
contributed lately…