After ten long years
Johnny returned home
Everything seemed unchanged
The Aged father sat
in his usual garden chair
Johnny rushed forward to embrace him
But his father looked away
Did he not recognize his own son?
It really seemed that way
He screamed out to him
But he continued to look away
So he shouted his own name
But the old man still looked away
Father, have you forgotten me?
He asked him finally
This time he stared blankly
Johnny panicked and rushed inside
He found his mother seated
Serenely in her usual chair
She did not recognize him either
When he tried to greet her
She just looked into space
And then quietly disappeared
He ran outside again
His father was no longer there
Johnny was at a total loss
He leaned across the wall
And asked a neighbor in a voice quite meek
If his parents often played hide and seek
The neighbor glared at him in shock and disbelief
Then in a calm voice announced
'As you were pursuing your career at sea
You heard not your helpless parents’ pleas
They succumbed to a dreadful disease
You should visit a shrink immediately
This house has for over four years been empty'
I would have included this piece in the course of junior english class, for its language, suspense and horror.10
great content....holds u glued and motionless very well written tragic.....devastating and well penned what cheers
Good story telling Sandra...i liked the bit of mysticism and eeriness you bring in, at end of your poem...thanks...10
I admit I was fooled till almost the end. I love this kind of writing. As a child it was the only bread and meat for my scavenging mind. (smile)
very moving, ; without moralising uyou have drivemn home the point. plight of senior citizens, as children chase their dreams. i was planning to write on similar lines, after readind Khalil Gibran's Prophet. wonderful poem10 Mamta
sandra, simple but very meaningful........you hit on the cruel face of children..not caring parents........10
A wonderfully expressed poem, Sandra, telling a fascinating story and with a surprising twist at the end. You are a gifted story teller as well as an exceptionally good poet! Carl.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Sandra, I think this poem is interesting and written in simple words for readers to comprehend. There are many people who have encountered the type of situation you describe and once one dies it is important to go to the light and join loved ones of the other side. Some spirits stay grounded and can't comprehend they have died. I have read many books and spoken to people who have almost died and had out of body experiences. In this New Age people are starting to understand it all, as on one of our current affairs TV program, a woman reported what happened when she died. Thank you for allowing us to think about what actually happens! 10 Karin Anderson