Forever And All Time

I had a dream the other day
That I walked along a road ,
And came upon a man who worked
At a place where water flowed .

He smiled and spoke in gentle words ,
'Come now stranger , tell me true .
Are you the one to take my place
And is my work now through ? '

I said , 'I really could not say , '
As I knew not where I go .
Or even where I journeyed from ,
This place , I did not know .

'Oh well , ' he said , 'It won't be long
Till my work is done , someday .
I've waited here two thousand years ,
So what's another day ? '

'You see the planks I laid ? ' He said .
And I said , 'I really do.'
' I lay them for my friends to cross
So they might start anew .'

'For on the other side you see ,
Is the place where I shall go .
I even cut my own good plank
But I can't lay it though .'

I said , 'I just don't understand.'
And he tried then to explain .
'I'm waiting for someone to come,
The last one down the lane .'

'For he alone will lay my plank
As I cannot lay for him .
I must complete my father's work
As I wait just for them .'

'And when he comes , I then will go
Into my father's land .
And then the souls of all good men
Who crossed will take my hand .'

I said , 'What then , will come of him
Who labored and did for Thee ? '
He said, ' That of the souls of men ,
He's special , don't you see ? '

'He's the one who shall remain ,
Forever and all time .
For he's the one my father chose
To rest here so sublime .'

'To not return from dreamer's land
As others always do .
But to remain forever here
As all his dreams come true .'

I asked if I might lay His plank
And he smiled and said , 'You may.'
And so I took His plank in hand
And tried so hard to lay .

Alas! I could not lay His plank .
And He said, ' It might be you .
You're not the first in dreams to try
To have your dreams come true .'

'It's only when your soul returns ,
When your body dies one day .
That you will know your fate for sure
If you should come this way .'

I said I really did not know
Of the fates , which I desired .
He said , ' The only fate to dread
Is the one that Satan fired .'

'But I will tell you true my friend .
Whichever way you may go ;
You can't get there by dreams alone -
It's living life , you know.'

I asked if He'd prepared for me,
'A new sturdy plank today .'
And He just smiled and turned and said ,
'You best be on your way .'

I then awoke from this fine dream
To a better life for me .
And now I know what to expect
The afterlife to be .

I've wondered if He made my plank,
Or will I rest so sublime .
And always see my dreams come true ,
Forever And All Time .

GREENWOLFE 1962