THE STORY OF AN OLD MAN

Once long ago, there lived an old man.
He had no money.He Had no plan.
All that he had was a horse.
and he and his horse lived off the land.

The King offered riches for this horse oh so fine,
"I'll give you my money if you'll make your horse mine."
But the old man said, "My horse will not be sold,
he lives with me."

Then one day the horse was gone.
"The horse had been stolen," the townsfolk cried on.
The old man said,"Friends, don't look so sad,
Though the horse be gone that may not be so bad."

"You foolish old man, look what you've done.
You had a fine horse and now you have none.
A curse it is and a curse it will be,
you shouldn't have let your horse wander free!"

The horse soon returned with others by its side.
There were 12 now of beauty and pride.
The townfolk said,"Old man,you were right.
You are blessed to have horses of unearthly delight!"

"I have now 12 horses,yes that is true but that does
not mean I am blessed with them too.It is too soon
to judge,who knows what will be? Try not to make
stories from the little you see."

As it came to pass,the old man's only son tried riding
a horse,just for fun.
Yet he broke both legs while playing this game
and the townfolk cried, "Oh what a shame!"

The old man said, "Friends don't speak too so soon.
You hear just one note yet you sing an entire tune.
Who's to say what the future may hold?
My son's legs are broken but the future lies untold."

Soon there was war, and the young men of town
were all sent to fight and were shot down.
But the old man's son was saved from this plight.
He had broken his legs, he was forced not to fight.

And the townfolk cried out, "Again you were right!"
But the old man replied, "Have you no sight?
Only God knows what is and will be.
To live and let live is to live and live free."