I saw that old man again today,
Come slow-walk'n down his lane;
Make'n his way to the edge of the road,
And lean heavy on his home-made cane.

He sat himself down in a straight-back chair,
Under the shade of a Maple tree;
He comes every day to sit by the road,
Take'n in all there is to see.

They say he used to run that old saw-mill,
And did all his work'n life;
But now spends his days a-sit'n down here,
Ever since lose'n his wife.

Folks say they worked that mill together,
And had for some thirty-odd years;
Seems they did most everything together,
From share'n laughs to wipe'n tears.

Now... just today I happened to notice,
As I drove by and saw him there;
Sit'n quiet... in the shade beside him,
Was an empty, straight-back chair.