sitting quietly
day after day
hands resting on his knees
day after day
hardly moving
save to raise his hand
to brush his brow
or adjust his cap
day after day
quietly
on the same park bench
at the pond
near the same tree
same willow
you could watch him come
mid-morning
see him leave
at dinner time
day after day
sitting there
hands on his knees
quietly
same bench
same tree
one morning
as he sat there
I left my office
walked across the street
into the park
approached him
smiled
and sat down beside him
quietly
he said nothing
so we sat together
for a while
quietly on the bench
by the tree
finally I spoke up
why do you sit here old man
sit here everyday
day after day
here on this bench
quietly watching the pond
he tilts his head
speaks softly
I’ve come here for years
he says
but how can that be
I say
these office buildings
this park – they’re all new
how could you have come
to this park for years
not to this park
he says
no – not to this park
– to this tree
me and all my friends
came to willow pond
every spring
to this tree
this old willow
for years
day after day
why
I ask
why to this tree
quiet smile
we played cards
in its shade
he explains
we talked – laughed
we listened at the pond
in its wonderful shade
day after day
this wonderful willow
where are your friends
I ask
why are they not here
with you on the bench
because
he hesitates
they are gone
he says finally
quietly
gone – gone where
I ask
gone
is all he says
quietly
unmoving
hands on his knees
all gone
oh – I see
I say
do you
is all he says
so why do you sit here
day after day
I ask
he stares straight ahead
and after a bit he says
I’m listening
listening
I say
listening for what
he sits quietly for a while
then
without changing his gaze
without raising his hands
from his knees
he says haltingly
for our laughter
our beautiful laughter
I still hear it
here
on the breeze
through this willow
rob kistner © 2019
DAY 21
