He was tired
So bored
The old man swore
He'd already seen the exact sunset
The exact trade between sun and stars
The exact darkness that now dimmed the ground
He shrugged in acceptance
Even the sky was sheer repetition
Like his old dog who never did anything new
Always the same old trick
Every day the old man with his old dog
Walked to the same park
Sat on the same bench
The old dog had forgotten how to play
The old man had forgotten ...so much.
One day a rock mysteriously struck
The old man's head
It hurt
He bled
Everyone thought he was dead
But no
He rose
Walked home
Then smiled to see the day's end
So different yet the same
He called a friend he'd forgotten from the past
They ate
They talked
They even laughed
Everyday the old man gave thanks for that rock
That somehow cracked open his head
Gave his life a new plot
He was grateful to be a (hu)man
Though now his animal friend romped around the park
He ran, he played
Never learned a new trick
But seemed to have a happy spark in his bark
(For Poets and Storytellers United.)
"He was grateful to be a (hu)man"
ReplyDeleteNice twist to this story
Happy Wednesday, thank you for dropping by my blog today
Much❤love
a beautiful relationship
ReplyDeleteAwwwww, I love it. It is so true, dogs companion us in our depression, but much more joyfully in our happiness. Sometimes it takes a knock on the head, to jolt us back into life.
ReplyDeleteSome of life's lessons can leave us a bit bloody, indeed. But they are never a waste if, like the old man, we learn from it (and with it).
ReplyDeleteThe last two lines of the first stanza made me sigh.
If only more of us could receive that 'slap in the head' -metaphorical or otherwise.
ReplyDeleteYes, our world grows smaller with age, and a new trick can be a welcome change!!
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing quite like having a dog to rule the family! Most of the dogs we had were very adventurous and loved long walks in the country and forests.
ReplyDeleteCould I borrow the rock? Good read, Myrna and a good ending after all.
ReplyDeleteSame O, Same O. When you get in a rut it takes something special, scary, etc. to get you going again.
ReplyDeleteNice them, Myrna.
..
Routine can get you down, even an old dog gets bored, and I enjoyed the way you explored that in your poem, Myrna. It’s easy to forget fun, even though it doesn’t take much to bring it back.
ReplyDeleteI've sometimes wished I learned things sooner and easier than by getting a metaphorical rock to the head. I'm glad he found happiness in the end though.
ReplyDeleteGreat story, delightfully told.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it takes being hit by a rock to waken us up to the blessings around us.
ReplyDeleteA dog playing always captures my attention.
ReplyDeleteLovely poem
ReplyDelete