When I Looked

When I Looked

By Noel Vanderbilt

I drew a breath, for the world gleamed golden
and I saw an old man walking
with a camera clasped in gnarled palms.
(Click-clickety-click the shutter snapped.)

And I saw an old man walking.
I wonder, did he capture the splendor of the sun.
(Click-clickety-click the shutter snapped.)
Or the way the shadows danced between the pines.

I wonder, did he capture the splendor of the sun,
as he shuffled toward the distant eastern hill.
Or the way the shadows danced between the pines,
moving faster when the chapel bells began to toll.

As he shuffled toward the distant eastern hill,
his camera and his footsteps echoed through the mist,
moving faster when the chapel bells began to toll.
I drew a breath, for the world gleamed golden.