an empty swing stands waiting

in a children’s park

remembering happy times

When sounds of  laughter  mingled with

the shrieks of joy as the

children demanded

“swing me high”

 

It it was one of a pair:

twins in blue that ruled the playground

with children queuing for their turn.

Till one day a chain snapped

brittle with rust, and lack of care

and left a child , a girl of two

unconscious and bleeding too.

 

The shocked faces

screams of despair

wails of ambulances

and then a silence that

filled the playground where

once children did.

 

the swing was brought down

Swiftly,

punished for a crime

not really of its making.

 

That left the second one waiting

expectantly

for the children to swing it up again.

 

But the mothers eyed it

with suspicion and left

it all alone .

 

It stands there

Abandoned and waiting .

 

This was the first thought that came to mind when I saw this black and white photograph of a swing in a park. This poem is loosely based on a true life incident that had a happy end – the girl recovered from her injury but it left us all with a lifelong fear that a harmless and joyful activity can end in tears.

A lesson to be learnt from this is [ctt title=”” tweet=”check out all playground equipment carefully, which despite being in constant use may just have a loose nut or a rusty chain .” coverup=”9XBqk”]

I’m linking up with other bloggers on #Friday Reflections

This may be a bit morbid but it doesn’t reflect my mood. I’m in the middle of capturing the essence of summer with my mango pickles and jams which I will soon be posting after they’re done. For once I’m happy to be in a pickle.

Happy weekend all!