The Park Bench
The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read
Under the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree
Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown
For the world was intent on dragging me down
Under the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree
Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown
For the world was intent on dragging me down
And if that weren't enough, to ruin my day
A young boy approached me, all tired from play
A young boy approached me, all tired from play
He stood right before me with his head tilted down
And said with great excitement, "Look what I found!"
And said with great excitement, "Look what I found!"
In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight
With its petals all worn - not enough rain, or too little light
Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play
I faked a small smile and then shifted away
With its petals all worn - not enough rain, or too little light
Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play
I faked a small smile and then shifted away
But instead of retreating he sat next to my side
And placed the flower to his nose
And declared with overacted surprise
And placed the flower to his nose
And declared with overacted surprise
"It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too.
That's why I picked it; here, it's for you."
The weed before me was dying or dead
Not vibrant of colours: orange, yellow or red
That's why I picked it; here, it's for you."
The weed before me was dying or dead
Not vibrant of colours: orange, yellow or red
But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave
So I reached for the flower and said, "Just what I need."
So I reached for the flower and said, "Just what I need."
But instead of him placing the flower in my hand
He held it mid-air, without reason or plan
He held it mid-air, without reason or plan
It was then that I noticed for the very first time
That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind
That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind
I heard my voice quiver; tears shone in the sun
As I thanked him for picking the very best one
"You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play
Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day
As I thanked him for picking the very best one
"You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play
Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day
I sat there and wondered how he managed to see
A self-pitying person beneath an old willow tree
How did he know of my self-indulged plight?
Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight
A self-pitying person beneath an old willow tree
How did he know of my self-indulged plight?
Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight
Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see
The problem was not with the world; the problem was me
The problem was not with the world; the problem was me
And for all of those times, I myself had been blind
I vowed to appreciate every second that's mine
I vowed to appreciate every second that's mine
And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose
And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose
I smiled at the young boy with another weed in his hand
About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man
And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose
I smiled at the young boy with another weed in his hand
About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man
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8 comments:
This poem made me cry :_) we really need to be blind sometimes to actually see . .
And the bottle thing is pretty sweet . . . I had LOTS of pen pals as a kid (not thru bottle messages, of course . .)but i was a lonely child. . I always wanted friends :p
lol @ the foam story ! It's funny, really :) :) am plannin to tell that to my child . . InshaAllah. . :p am such a bad mother . :p
What a lovely poem! Lol - shame you poor girl, never got to send something to Australia :D.. Lol. And how many more made up stories must your cousin have told you :)
Absolutely loved the poem! Was such a sweet poem.. And its true hey, we learn so much from people with disabilities.
Assalamu alaikum.
The poem was just what I needed to draw a smile on my face. :)
You're truly blessed mashaaAllah.
Never change sister.
At first I was thinking this poem to be a romantic one. But... Shows how ungrateful we are... We select flowers on the basis of colors and the boy wil giv everythng in the world just to see! Marvelous post this one. Makes us think. Should be content on what we have and at the same time should think of the people who are not so blessed.At first I was thinking this poem to be a romantic one. But... Shows how ungrateful we are... We select flowers on the basis of colors and the boy wil giv everythng in the world just to see! Marvelous post this one. Makes us think. Should be content on what we have and at the same time should think of the people who are not so blessed.one. But... Shows how ungrateful we are... We select flowers on the basis of colors and the boy wil giv everythng in the world just to see! Marvelous post this one. Makes us think. Should be content on what we have and at the same time should think of the people who are not so blessed.At first I was thinking this poem to be a romantic one. But... Shows how ungrateful we are... We select flowers on the basis of colors and the boy wil giv everythng in the world just to see! Marvelous post this one. Makes us think. Should be content on what we have and at the same time should think of the people who are not so blessed.
@ Aasiyah
Im glad it made you smile :).. Jazakillah for your kind words :)
@ Muhammad
lol - your comment got triplicated :).. Yes, we definitely need to learn to be content with what we have. There will always be someone who is in a position worse than ours, and that should make us feel grateful.
I love all that you share.
It's so powerful.
So jazakallah!
:)
:) Thanks Nas
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