A Sunset Story

A Sunset Story

"Let's go, we need to get to sunset point , fast,"

"There it is said, we can see the most spectacular sunsets, memories to last", 

The sun will set soon, at quater hour  past,

Mother and son set off at a brisk pace, following the throng,

The little boy running, trying to,follow along,

Keep up ,with his mom's strides,long 

Till he slipped and almost fell, the mother turned with a frown,

"Come on, little one, we are very near the crown",

"Let's not slow down", 

"But mama, I am so tired, can't we stop?",

Said the little boy, the tears, threatening to drop,

 "I cannot keep up, all the way to the top"

"Just a little further, we are almost there",

 "Chin up, just a little more to bear", 

"But mama, aren't sunsets beautiful everywhere?"

The mother, stopped short,

Understanding, dawned, tears to her eyes, brought,

Turned slowly to the child, by guilt, wrought, 

 To value something that, by others, is sought,

To blindly follow the crowd , without a thought,

Leads to naught,

She smiled and said, "You are right, sunsets are beautiful anywhere",

"Particularly, if they are shared."

To know you were blessed with another day to love , to care,

So the mother and son separated from the tide,

Sat on a bench, side by side,

To the curious looks, of passersby,

Watched the orange and crimson bleed,

Through the filigree of the trees,

Listened to the song,that rode on the evening breeze,

Years later,looking back, at all the picturesque sunsets ,that had blessed,

This one, stood out from the rest .

--shubha