BEATITUDES FOR THE OLD

BEATITUDES FOR THE OLD

BLESSED THEY WHO KNOW MY WALK'S UNSTEADY
AND MY HANDS SHAKE
BLESSED THEY WHO SPEAK A LITTLE LOUDER
BLESSED THEY WHO KNOW THE WORLD IS MISTY
IN MY SIGHT AND IN MY MIND
BLESSED THEY WHO DO NOT GRUMBLE WHEN I SPILL THE SALT
BLESSED THEY WHO SMILE AT ME AND STOP TO TALK
AND LISTEN TO MY STORIES THREE TIMES TOLD
BLESSED ARE THE LISTENERS TO THE TALES OF MY YOUTH
WHO LOVE ME AND TREAT ME WITH RESPECT
BLESSED THEY WHO GIVE ME WARMTH AS COLD CREEPS IN
BLESSED THEY WHO MAKE GOD SEEM MORE FRIENDLY
AND WHEN ETERNITY WRAPS ITSELF ABOUT ME
I SHALL REMEMBER THEM TO GOD



from the french by arbelet