Peace

Joe West greeted friends and strangers alike
by saying Peace, with a smile,
and he parted the same way;
I witnessed it often, as a young man,
without realizing its significance.

Now that I'm as gray as Joe was when we met,
his gentle salutation lingers in memory,
reminding me that if we have peace in our lives,
we're blessed beyond measure; and
if we don't
not much else
really matters