Old Friends
by Paul Simon and Arthur Garfunkel

Old friends,
Old friends
Sat on their park bench
Like bookends.
A newspaper blown though the grass
Falls on the round toes
Of the high shoes
Of the old friends.

Old friends,
Winter companions,
The old men
Lost in their overcoats,
Waiting for the sunset.
The sounds of the city,
Sifting through trees,
Settle like dust
On the shoulders
Of the old friends.

Can you imagine us
Years from today,
Sharing a park bench quietly?
How terribly strange
To be seventy.
Old friends,
Memory brushes the same years
Silently sharing the same fears.

Time it was, and what a time it was, it was
A time of innocence, a time of confidences
Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph
Preserve your memories, they’re all that’s left you

Old Friends by Simon and Garfunkel  

The link to my other Poetry Wednesday poem for this week is: The Dangling Conversation

deletereply bostonsdandd wrote on Feb 19, ’08 I was a little young for Simon and Garfunkel. But I read this to my husband and he remembers it very well. So thanks for giving HIM something to reminiscence about LOL. He doesn’t do it often and sometimes it’s enjoyable ;o).

deletereply sandpearl wrote on Feb 19, ’08, edited on Feb 19, ’08 Simon and Garfunkel make a great pair to bring us songs so sweet, so tender. Thanks for making me discover this one I do not think I had ever heard before. If one day I play it on the guitar, it will be because of this moment you have shared with us.

deletereply starfishred wrote on Feb 19, ’08 Sad but very nice.

deletereply asolotraveler wrote on Feb 20, ’08 in college, of course, i was an S&G fan to the max – a child of the 60s and 70s me…. once, in a play, we used OLD FRIENDS as a running theme music for the opening and closing sections… fond memories!  thanks

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Feb 20, ’08 It’s interesting that at such a young age, their songs were written with such maturity.

deletereply philsgal7759 wrote on Feb 21, ’08 You don’t have to convince me I love these guys both song and lyrics are masterpieces Add those voices and WOW

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Feb 22, ’08 Thanks Narice! I think the word, “masterpiece” best describes their work.