The Bench

  "The Bench"

Where to go in life,
  seems daunting, scary.
What direction to take,
  a false step; disaster.
Crossroads in time,
  turns in life's course,
could have far reaching effects.
  But with wild abandon I
Stubbornly walk the road again.
  New love, maybe.
New job, new town,
  or same old same old?
So sitting here on this bench
  head in hands, staring,
provides not much help.
  I'd call a friend and ask, if I had one.
Sad to say, I'd ask God if he would listen.
  Why do we end up here anyway?
Park bench, lost in thought.
  Wanting oh so many answers.
Directions, help!
  Instead I am alone.
But you have to do it on your own.
  This is the time to pull up the bootstraps.
Forget depression, medication.
  OK here goes.
I'm homeless, penniless,
  no family that cares.
I've put myself here by self indulgence.
  Sorry as hell too.
I was a great person at one time.
  At least I thought.
But after divorce, drugs, alcohol and abandon
I'm not so sure.
It does get tiring beating yourself up doesn't it?
  Did the rehab thing, even cleaned up.
Got the higher power thing too.
  So where is he?
I'm why am I on this stupid bench?
Broke, hungry, wore out from trying.
Is it possible to come back from the pit?
  Are there not thousands of us here?
Look into our eyes.
  Do you see us?
Do you feel us?
  It could have been you on this bench.
But it’s me.
  You walk past and look with disgust.
I had a family once too.
  a good job, big house, all the accolades.
It could happen to you.
  yes it could !
So when you pass a park bench sometime,
  stop and look at it and think of me
think of us
  think of you.

S A Gibbins


© Copyright 2008 S A Gibbins (UN: grzzbrdover at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.