Elevator

Pardon me, my highrise fellow, but do you have the time?

I do, good sir, just here, good sir, upon this watch of mine.

I haven't eyes to see, by jove, would you tell me true?
Of the sun to-day, light on the bay, and of dreams lost to you?

The sun today is warm and clear, the bay its deepest blue,
and the light suffusing both seems to make everything new.
Forgive a forward comment sir, a stranger please oblige,
How came you, so bold, good sir, to lose those seeing eyes?

I lost them off to work one day, the tallest towers high,
the city-lights did blind me as through ranks I tried to rise.
I've sold my soul for a penny, and the ferry-man my sight,
but you, good lad, failed to mention the loss of your great light.

The brightest light I've held for fear in sharing I might lose,
I want to be an artist, doing shows, receiving dues.
That flame died when the world laughed about my sight,
the artist's touch won't match the gain of commerce: man's true flight.

Aren't we a pair? I a blind man, you a-blinded too,
the question we must answer now 'What are we to do?'
You know your freedom lies at hand, to paint, the artist's life,
yet here in rising lift we stand, ascending to your blight.
I've come to take you from this world, you're just about to die.
It's done, my son, you've made your bed and now's the time to lie.
I've come to terms with sightlessness, in other ways make do,
but you, poor boy, working so hard, have sealed your very doom.

But sir! oh, sir! I do repent, the coin was in my eye,
I desired the world, riches, and even more, the skies!
so unfulfilled I'm bitter, unwilling, unready to fly,
I'll change my ways and paint such life back into those eyes!
You'll hear them tell it true, how I paint with softest touch,
there never was an artist who loved his paint so much!
I'll travel all around the world, inciting riots in my heart,
changing paints and subject, colour! oh, in love with purest art!

Oh, good, dear boy, it's nice to hear the time for you is nigh,
to begin again, to be free and then pursue your highest high.
This is why we're created, son, to live the lightened life,
not to pursue the groundless things that leave a man sucked dry.
I'm just a man like you, not death a-walking mortal shoes,
but to God rededicate your life and every hue.

He ambled slowly out the lift, light-livened eyes shone through,
I lifted top to bottom again, not knowing what to do.
I cannot stand, I cannot sit, for the life that's come alive,
that blind old man has made me see the sun and bay for the first time.