Today as I visited Serendipity, which I do quite often for her excellent photography, interesting articles, candid humor and wonderful musings, The Bench in Waiting immediately captured my attention. Thank you, Marilyn for your inspiration that guided me to reflect on The Ol’ Bench. . .
Photo Credit: Marilyn Armstrong
The Ol’ Bench
A resting place, a stopping-off point
Relief from labors along life’s way
The bench beckoned moments for solitude
To ponder reveries of the day
How many have passed this way
Stopped for a moment or two
Rested, mused, wondered
Contemplated what to do?
What decisions were made
Changes to start anew
Thoughts and reflections
Begin again, redo?
Beaten, battered, broken
Life’s pain abates
It holds a lifetime’s worth of stories …
And still, it waits
Awaits the next visitor
To settle down, to rest
To ponder, to wonder
Tomorrow — life’s next test
A resting place, a stopping-off point
Relief from labors along life’s way
The bench beckons moments for solitude
To ponder reveries of the day. . .
©2012 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults
catnipoflife 
I loved this!!!
It was the photograph…it really grabbed me!
Oh stories inanimate objects would tell if they could talk. You captured this one very nicely!
Thank you, Mark. The photograph was definitely inspiring:>)
[…] Today as I visited Serendipity, which I do quite often for her excellent photography, interesting articles, candid humor and wonderful musings, The Bench in Waiting immediately captured my attention. Thank you, Marilyn for your inspiration that guided me to reflect on The Ol’ Bench. […]
[…] See on catnipoflife.wordpress.com […]
That is perfect … exactly what I was thinking when I took the picture!! It’s beautiful.
See how our minds think alike…that’s scary!!!!!! LOL:>) Hugs for the inspiration!
[…] The Bench in Waiting […]
And since this is a perfect collaberation, you may see it also on my site at:
http://teepee12.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/bench-in-waiting/
I really couldn’t have said it nearly as well!!
WOW! That is REALLY a compliment!
You and “Serendipity” should collaborate on a book. Her lovely photography and your beautiful poetry go so well together.
Would you believe I have already thought of that! If all goes well with Awakenings, catnipoflife is next on the burner ready to be fired up!!!!!
I’ve forgotten what it’s like to just sit and ponder…thanks for the reminder Sharla.
Sent from my iPad
It was such a cool picture and the bench even in its dilapidated state is still inviting:>)
The subject of a bench triggers a memory of a hike I took a few years back to the base of one of our mant waterfalls in Oregon. There were plenty of switchbacks along the path leading to the pool of water where the falls emptied. I kept wondering why the powers that be put in all these benches at every turn. I got my answer when returning from the base of the falls. As I panted going up I kept hoping I could just reach that next bench. LOL
Yeah, those old benches seem to serve more than one purpose – rest for the weary bones and rest for the convoluted mind!
Beautiful, Sharla!
Thank you, Peggy. So glad you enjoyed!
[…] Today as I visited Serendipity, which I do quite often for her excellent photography, interesting articles, candid humor and wonderful musings, The Bench in Waiting immediately captured my attention. Thank you, Marilyn for your inspiration that guided me to reflect on The Ol’ Bench. […]
[…] See on catnipoflife.wordpress.com […]
Thanks for sharing the bench. I heard once that one who cannot sit in solitude is afraid of their own thoughts. I take pleasure in solitude. My friends know that for two days I can live without TV, forget to check Facebook or Twitter, or call and say hello. Why/ Because I’m sitting on a bench reflecting and analyzing, resting and musing. Great poem, awesome photo.
Thank you so much for stopping by for some catnip…so glad you enjoyed the beauty of the photo and the poem!
How beautifully awesome…a great poem a beautiful photo. Takes real heart to see a lonely bench and write to make it so beautiful.
Your poetry capture my soul. So many times I will be in a park and find a bench dedicated by plaque to another person(s) and you know they came and sat and reflected as your beautiful words so inspirationally suggested Sharla. Thank you, Penny
Thank you for sharing your lovely poem!
Glad you enjoyed, Resa! Totally impromptu per the picture:>)
😉
Wonderful poem Sharla, makes me think back to long walks along the coastline back home, thanks for bringing back warm memories! 🙂
Thank you, Claire! It is always wonderful to have you stop by and leave with a little catnip:>)
What a great impressive poem Sharla! It’s really special.
Truly impromptu inspired by the picture:>) Be sure to go to https://catnipoflife.wordpress.com/2012/11/30/sisterhood-of-the-world-bloggers-award/ and grab the badge for the Sisterhood of World Bloggers. Be sure to leave a comment, especially when you post to your blog.
[…] The Bench in Waiting […]
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