The Vessel - The Bruce Projects

Part I – The Dream

He was a young man and he knew it all
In the prime of his life and he heard the call

At that ripe old age near about twenty
He hadn’t enough, he wanted plenty

It was high time to make to make a critical acquisition
Someone to enhance his prominent position

He’d work harder than ever a great career to achieve
She’d be by his side and in him would believe

As his world would expand in every which way
She’d be with him every step of his play

Now what were the necessary characteristics
A bit like a puzzle with relevant logistics

She’d have to be pretty of course
With a wife who was plain he’d hardly be a force

Intelligent enough and with a calm disposition
Just the right choice for a man in his position

Home she would stay and raise his offspring
A voice that was soothing and to them she would sing

She’d love him so well and he would support her
Now where can she be and I’ll be sure to court her

Into his sphere a woman to nestle
He needed a wife who would be his vessel

He was in his prime now, not far from fifty
And his life had gone perfect; indeed, pretty nifty

All that he wanted had then been achieved
All from his own efforts he fully believed

He had money and fame and friends and power
Above all the others he was pleased to tower

A scotch in hand in his easy chair
He was so full of himself he was walking on air

There was little left now with which to wrestle
Happy she’d made him – she was his vessel

An older man now in his later years
Career long since over no time for tears

Old and tired he was, it was time for reflection
Let’s think it through with careful detection

She’d done a good job he had to admit
Hardly ever she’ be one to sit

She’d kissed his cheek when he’d worked late
And happily with a girlfriend she’d make a date

While he slogged and he struggled through long client dinners
She’d loved raising their kids to be happy and winners

While he was late to bed and early to rise
She’d toned herself up with healthy exercise

While he was aged now before his time
His wife, his vessel, was just plain old fine

The years now hung heavy upon his frame
Was it all worth it to achieve money and fame

The money he’d earned was now set aside
When he was gone for his wife it would well betide

And the friends that gathered round them all so often
Would be hers no doubt when he was laid in his coffin

She’d been the one to invest so wise
So she’d be just fine after his demise

Then finally it hit him with a shocking conclusion
Perhaps that his view was just an illusion

He looked at his wife realizing at last
It was now much too late to relive the past

A coldness came on him as turmoil haunted
That she’d created the life she wanted

He’d be leaving much sooner than he had expected
And she’d live much longer he now reflected

Right from the start he was right about a vessel
He was hers all along and nothing so special