An old man, burdened by life's hardships, sits alone on a park bench, lost in sorrow. A stranger, offering three wishes, appears before him, promising a chance at happiness. But what begins as a fleeting opportunity soon turns into a journey of regret, as the man’s impulsive wishes lead him to face the true cost of his desires. Based on Erich Kästner's fairy tale, this thought-provoking tale explores the weight of choices, the unpredictability of fate, and the lessons learned when time cannot be reversed.


The Three Wishes

An old man sat, in sorrow deep,
On a park bench, lost in sleep.
A stranger came, with kindly eyes,
And promised wishes, no disguise.

 

This stranger came one summer day,
In park’s green bench, beside him lay.
“Three wishes, old man,” he did decree,
“Choose them well, and you’ll soon see.”

 

The man, in doubt, had no reply,

For life’s harsh weight made him deny

The charm that seemed so sweet, so bright.

The stranger stayed, still in his sight.

 

Anger flared, and curses flew,
The man, now mad, knew what to do:
“Begone, ole fool! I wish you gone—
To hell, away, now move along!”

 

And in that very second, too,
The stranger vanished—through and through.
Now shock replaced his fleeting rage,
As thoughts of wishes turned the page.

 

The first was gone, its cost was paid,
And no warm joy from it was laid.
But seconds ticked, and doubt did grow,
The man called back—“Return, I know!”

 

"And so the stranger came once more,

With scorched black brows, as from hell's core.

'Don’t rush, think wisely, take your time,

For wishes made don’t always shine.'"

 

The second wish, a heart laid bare,

To see the man who once was there.

With joy, the man saw him return,

But bitter thoughts began to burn.

 

One last wish hung, his heart was tight,
He saw the stranger’s burning light.
“Take it slowly,” the man then begged,
“Please help me fix what I’ve misled.”

 

But wise was the charm, who never swore,
The man who wished could ask no more.
A final wish left locked in time,
A lesson learned in bitter rhyme.

 

And so he walked, his thoughts were deep,

The final wish, a secret to keep.

For forty years it lingered still,

A wish unsaid, by careful will.