View From A Park Bench
(Hope for the future)
There's a young boy, 3 or 4,
Delighting as he swings
Higher and higher, then
Tumbling onto his knees.
Again Dad! He squeals.
There's a young girl, 6 or 7,
Laughing and chasing her dog,
Yelling with delight as her
Mother watches with pride,
A smile caressing her face.
There's a young teenage lad
Sitting on the opposite bench.
Reading Orwell's '1984' as the
Tinny hiss of earphones spills
Out Lunge da lei from La Traviata.
There's a group of teenage girls
Walking past talking about A levels
And going on to study nursing,
And veterinary science and
Engineering and maths.
There's a young man, early 20's.
Clean shaven, dressed in pressed
Collared shirt and tie, polished shoes.
Well-suited before an impending interview.
Trying to suppress his nerves, but not his pride.
There's a young woman, early 20's.
A book of collected poems, open at
Emily Dickinson's Hope is the Thing With Feathers.
Sharing her sandwich with hopeful pigeons and
An eager squirrel scurrying by the bench.
There's an old lady, stood watching through
Decade eyes, at the young children and teenagers
And the young men and women and the
Mothers and fathers, smiling, content.
She nods as our eyes meet.
The park echoes to children sounds
Of laughter and happiness and freedom.
It is filled with youth and anticipation
And contentment and peace
And a positive air.
'There is hope for the future,' she says,
Spanning the park with an outstretched arm.
She turns away with a gentle smile,
Laughter accompanying her slow tread
And hope reflecting in her eyes.
--
Don't give up on the youth of today, for they are the hope for the future.
And there are many inspiring, enthusiastic, bright young people making their way through this world.
