It was frightening sit side by side, strangers all around,
in sombre mood I silently sat, staring at the ground.
I did not want to be in here, this is no place for me,
my mind played games, thinking of other places I could be.
I never saw the frail old man sat just by the door,
reminiscing of his life how things were before.
His loving wife no longer here, his children moved away,
alone he sat, yet still with pride, to fight another day.
I never saw the young mother, her children by her side,
I never saw them either, but my.... how they cried!
Scared and afraid of what they saw, people looking sad,
whose hair had fallen from their heads, just like their mothers had.
I never saw the nurses as they came to call the names,
man or woman, young and old, they all sounded the same.
A greeting smile, a helping hand, to lead them on their way,
a well trod path they knew too well, they make it every day.
And I never saw the infant in the crib asleep,
quiet now the probing hands had stopped,
well,
for another week.
But most of all I never saw myself, for I was afraid,
so silently sat with bowed head is how I remained.
yet despite the sorrow in the room I was reluctant to see,
the strangers sat there smiling bright, it was they who pitied me.
brian naugher
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/strangers-60/
