A Lesson

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