The Park Bench

ON THE PARK BENCH THE OLD MAN SAT
HIS CANE WAS RESTING ON HIS KNEES
HE CAME HERE DURING NICE WEATHER
NEVER KNOWING JUST WHAT HE WOULD SEE

IT WAS SOMETHING HE LOOKED FORWARD TO
IT WAS THERAPY SINCE HIS MARY DIED
HE FOUND THAT GETTING OUT OF THE HOUSE
HELPED FILL THE VOID HIDDEN DEEP INSIDE

HIS CHILDREN HE HARDLY EVER SAW
TOO ENGROSSED IN THEIR LIVES THEY WERE
THEIR VISITS, WHEN THEY EVER CAME
SEEMED LIKE AN OBLIGATED, AWKWARD BLUR

THE BEST THING, BY FAR, AT THE PARK
WERE THE PEOPLE HE SAW EACH DAY
PEOPLE OUT WALKING THEIR FAMILY PETS
MOTHERS WATCHING THEIR CHILDREN PLAY

IT WAS ON SUCH A DAY THAT IT HAPPENED
HE FELT A PRESSURE IN HIS CHEST
FUMBLING WITH HIS ZIPPERED JACKET
HE UNBUTTONED HIS GRAY SWEATER VEST

BY THEN SOMEONE HAD NOTICED HIM
AND HAD COME RUSHING TO HIS SIDE
GENTLY LOWERED HIM TO THE GROUND
HELD HIS HAND AS HE QUIETLY DIED

TO OUR ELDERLY THIS HAPPENS DAILY
IT’S AS IF NO ONE REALLY CARES
ARE WE TOO BUSY TO TAKE THE TIME
TO RECOGNIZE LONELINESS THAT’S THERE?

NOW JUST STOP AND THINK ABOUT IT
SOMEDAY IT COULD BE YOU ON THAT BENCH
WISHING THAT YOU WOULD BE NOTICED
AND FROM YOUR HEART, HEART ACHE WRENCH

Tuesday, June 14, 2022