The saddest things

One of the saddest things I know
is a pen running out of ink,
a ship running out of water,
a desert without a drink.

What is sadder than an empty mailbox?
A dog without a master?
A key without a lock?
A book that goes unread?
A ticket that goes unused?
An apology that goes unsaid?
A mystery without a clue?
A pencil that's out of lead?

Now I know there are worse tragedies
in some lives.
And of them I'm not tryin' to make light,
but there are things such as I've named above
that I'd rather not know of....

Like hot fudge without ice cream.
A people without a vision
or a sleeper without a dream.
A judge without a decision,
a prophet without a tongue.
A surgeon without an incision,
a mother without a son.
A guitar without strings.
A bird without wings.
These are but a few of the saddest things.....