Just a Bench...

I am a bench

Standing firm and all alone,

On the lap of a green esplanade

Amidst the flowing mortal emotions

I remember the day when a couple came

With a pram, with a tiny life

A life newly bestowed

Happiness was there and joys in their eyes

Through the baby I saw the beginning of life

I was there when the child grew up,

Crying like every other petulant tot

And with time standing on his feet

Wobbling in his way and badging all along

Through the child I saw the salvation in life

I was there when he turned into man,

Thoughts getting weirder, in limbo and tensed,

Thinking about his fledgling career and perpetual fear

bridled by weeds to forget them all.

Through the man I saw the insecurity of life

I was there when he was no more alone

There came she taking him into her lap,

Brought a shoulder to cry and the love she bestowed

Giving him a hand to fight the fear all along

 Through the man I saw the true love of life

I was there when they came as three

And then as four, happy was he and also worried

For the future was then all in his hand

Dependent on him, his wife and two little bairns

Through the man I saw the responsibilities of life

Days moved on and time passed by,

The children grew up and went into their life

Resting on me were only two bag of bones

Love still firm and hands embraced.

Through the old man I saw the quiescence of life

And then one day all bleak and dry,

There came the old man with no one on his side

Deep in his thoughts and soul all aloof,

Envious of his past life and wishing again to be a child

Through the old man I saw the loneliness of life

Finally on a dark night all cold and tight,

He came there dressed in cardigan with nothing in his mind

Sat on me and hummed a beautiful song

Slept there itself,  and never woke up again

And that's when I saw the end of life

I am still the same bench

Standing firm and all alone

On the lap of a green esplanade

Amidst the flowing mortal emotions
but just with a character less.