all the trees had thinning leaves
the grass was turning brown
I put my winter coat on
and walked up to the town

on my way I met a man
his back was stooped and bent
his face was gray his hair was white
his smile was heaven sent

he asked me for a dollar
I gave him what I had
he shook my hand and gave his thanks
then this is what he said

my life has had it’s sorrows
my luck was often bad
but life is worth the living
it’s best to not be sad

for each new day has promises
of joy that’s yet to be
and when that’s what you look for
it’s joy that you will see

I learned all this not long ago
and hold it to my heart
a love I loved did pass away
but love did never part

and as I walk through present days
I have the memory
of what we spoke and what we did
and what she gave to me

for love’s the greatest joy there is
it’s love that makes life grand
and when you’ve loved you’ve always got
a preciousness at hand

and when in turn you have been loved
there is no greater thing
it’s this that’s worth the living
the joy that love can bring

for in the end you cannot find
a happiness in fame
in riches or possessions
it’s all a silly game

that’s played by fools to no avail
there is no winning there
the only way you win at life’s
when love has been your share

he smiled and nodded as he passed
and gave his thanks again
and though I’d given all I had
I left a richer man

the sky turned bright and beautiful
though I still felt the chill
of late fall’s bluster in the air
0f winter coming still

I walked away that fateful day
in newness and with sight
and vowed to heed the old man’s words
I walked until the night

and since that day my blessings
have far outweighed my woes
I’ve learned to love much easier
I’ve seen how loving goes

that when I spend it freely
it soon comes back to me
and now ambition has become
to live life joyfully