The Life of Billy Veil

Who is Billy Veil and why do the village folk of Penn revere and fear him at the same time

They call him Billy Veil
They believe he has one foot in this world, and one in another
His presence is both comforting and concerning at the same time
Who is he really?
Where did he come from?
Where does he truly belong?

His face is lined with years of hard living
He has no place to call home, to rest his head
He roams the night, shadows cloaking him in kindness
He stumbles and mumbles, but never causes trouble
But his eyes are sharp and see all that surrounds him

Some say he is here one minute and gone the next
They worry if he is missing for days
And then just as suddenly he walks from the mist
Like he's been there all along
And with him a peace seems to reign

You see the village of Penn have taken Billy to their hearts
If not their homes
He is a fixture they feel strange without
And though they tell their children to stay clear
They have no desire to do him harm

Visitors to their shores hear the tales and legends
They keep their eyes peeled for a glimpse of the famous Billy Veil
They often confuse him with other homeless gents roaming the cobbled lanes
But once they truly see Billy, there is no doubt
His presence is truly something to behold, if not confusing as to why

They call him Billy, he doesn't know why
He only knows he is strangely welcome here
And feared at the same time
He is a mystery to them all, including himself
But Penn is his home, and here he will stay
Until the other world they say he visits calls him away