Poetry in the afternoon

i'm always surprised by the wonderful things that happen in the middle of concrete and razor wire...today was no exception.  my favorite co-worker, Dr. H, recited poetry in my office.  He couldn't quite remember all the lines, but he was close enough.  he is an oasis in the midst of chaos.

When You Are Old

When you are old and gray and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face among a crowd of stars.

 - Yeats