No Reason Or Right

I found an old letter in a locked tool box
in a white and weathered shed
signed J.S. nineteen hundred and three
and this is what it said

“I have no right to write you now
and you have no reason to care
25 years on the Pocono line
Has grayed most all my hair”

“I got a kid in Cincinnati
And another’s on the coast
After all these years of laying down ties
you’re the one I miss the most”

“Hell yes I’ve made some trouble
I’m damned well past my prime
sin has been cheap and easy
I’ve never been known as kind”

“But I’m older now and I’m tired
of wasting all my time
and I’d like to see you sometime soon
though i have no reason or right”

“I had no right to know all about
that forgotten memory
a lover’s quarrel as old as time
and a hundred years older than me”

I read on and what did I find
but a letter received
signed L.P. nineteen hundred and four
and a picture of an old Model-T

Said “I’m sorry for my delay J
The holidays were a mess
I had a fever 2 days after Christmas
I’ll spare you the rest”

“It’s been eighteen years what am i say
except i sure am glad you wrote
just the other day I was thinking about you
and if you still have that old boat”
“I too have made some trouble
It’s been few and far between
and I’m sure you probably knew that
we always were a team”

“I’m older too and I’m lonely
been waiting all this time
just a-hoping that you might find me
though I had no reason or right”

right then and there i saw it
underneath the chair
what looked like another letter
from this ancient loving pair

said “if you ever find this
just know we made it through
you’re sittin’ at the bench where i wrote to L
and where i played with all of my tools”

“our house was warm and happy
for a while we were thick as thieves
I bet that we’re both gone now
so these are yours to read”

“just know nothing lasts forever
we all get lost in time
but i hope you find your L my friend
though you have no reason or right”