I was standing in a train one day
An elderly lady stood not too far away
And at one stop the moment arrived
That a seat was vacated before my eyes
I glanced around and saw the old lady
Carrying bags of groceries which were large and heavy
And thus I started to motion to her
When she did something very very peculiar
Looking straight and not at me
She stiffened a little and stood more straightly
Her hands clenched her baggage with old gnarled hands
Her feet firmly planted, as though making a stand
And though I waved almost frantically
The old lady refused to budge even ‘miniscule’ly
And then in an instant I realized why
I gazed at myself in the mirror and sighed
For I looked a haggard with my eye bags deep
And truly I hadn’t had any sleep
For days on end preparing for tests
I must have looked like I needed some rest
And so with resignation I sat down on the seat
And rested my aching weary feet
And slowly I closed my stressed-out eyes
Preparing to enter dream land but my
heart wouldn’t let me rest one bit
I tossed and turned bordering on a mini-fit
My mind turned continually to the old lady there
Standing, laden with goods- didn’t I care?
So rising from my seat I began
To walk towards the dame and act more like a man
I opened my mouth and started my speech
I think it went something like this,
‘Dear lady, you have been most kind
In letting me sit down to rest my behind
But truly you would be doing me great service
If you would take my place- it’s ok, no worries.’
She stared at me for a little while
And then slowly slowly opened her mouth
‘My dear boy, what were you thinking?
Why did you give up that seat you were taking?
Perhaps you thought I was behaving generously
But when sitting my joints hurt most painfully
Now if you would just turn behind
You would notice the seat is now occupied’
I turned and looked and lo and behold
There in my seat was a man- a fat oaf
His eyes looked at me with wicked glee
He chuckled a little- ‘hee hee hee hee’
And so I learnt a painful lesson that day
When I have a seat I shouldn’t give it away
I should hoard it like a thief to his gold
I should hold it selfishly and be bold
Never again will I give way to old dames
The experience I had was nothing but pain
To see my seat ending up with an obese oaf
Who giggles maliciously and does nothing but loaf
So there is my lesson
I share it with you
That you might not be
Another victim too
