Stuart Buck

Luke 10:25

by Stuart Buck

Friday 2nd October 2015 6:30 pm

To the elderly lady

Who stood in the middle of the road

Waving at each car

That passed her by

Hoping to be noticed

In her NHS gown

I am so sorry

Nobody stopped

And waved

Or maybe

Wondered

Why?

At 3pm

On a Thursday afternoon

A lady closer to one hundred

Than most

Was all alone

Waving frantically

On a busy main road

I am so sorry

That no one cared for you

I hope you found

Whatever you were looking for

But as I sped past

It was hard to tell

All I could see

Was the beautiful sun

And the face of my daughter

Reflected in the mirror

As she slept soundly

And dreamt of the stars

And the meaning of life.

◄ Orchard

Fed ►

Comments

M.C. Newberry

Sat 3rd Oct 2015 12:09

It would be nice to think of that other object of material
desire - the mobile phone - being usefully employed.
There is a side-effect from these lines - the introspection
towards "family" that excludes or downgrades the needs of others outside its concerns.
"Guilty Conscience" assumes many forms and is always a
stimulating subject for consideration and debate for the
simple reason that it is essentially a most "human" failing.

raypool

Sat 3rd Oct 2015 10:46

HI Stu. There is so much that is de humanising about cars and our isolation within them . I discovered this transition from when I had a motor bike. Maybe without the family inside you may have been a freer soul at that moment. Then again there is an implicit danger in the sudden impulse. We all know of the rubber necking habit causing hold ups, but that's another story.
The good Samaritan theme is a vibrant one, and the story is compelling . Excellent stuff. Similar in nature to my attempt The Lonely Drinker. Like the title, it lies uncommented upon ! regards, Ray

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