Agitated, he stares at the broken ruler in his hand. Lost in confusion he writes on the wall " Life is even shorter than a broken ruler ". A gasp, a sigh, a look around; time to move on in search for something smaller for the measurement...
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A cloudy dark autumn day - a mild breeze around
On the verge of a fall, totally out of energy, the man in his 80s stops to lean against the wall. Begins to wander in a maze of his own memories holding the cane in his hand tighter. His feet too weary to tolerate the imposed weight they have been familiar with for long. He has been standing for too many things for too long during his life he thinks. For his beliefs, for his rights & for the people he once worshiped. Too much pain tolerated, too many irrelevant words he's heard. Accused of trying to break the world record of STANDING. Jailed for trying to spell the word freedom.
A glance around to see the comfortable lives of the sitting he wonders; Was it worthy to stand for so many so long?? Hadn't he lived a better life choosing to sit???
Rain drops rush down to interrupt the thinking session...
17 comments:
This is intense and profound--or anyway, it seems so to me. You have such a gift of taking a little glimpse of a life, of a fact, of a time, and making it into something boundless.And perhaps experience in living under repression?
But what is that saying--better to die standing than live on your knees?
is he standing in the monorail, and nobody giving him place to sit? i've been in that situation before, except that it's not so bad for me since im not yet 80..
Nice post Dear!
It raised my hair! I could hear the tiredness echoing in my thoughts while reading this post with a difference of being 50 years old younger!
A Very moving piece. Looks like we both had something to say. To answer "Was it worthy to stand so many so long??" Yes.
It will always be.
it would have been "safer" to sit,he 'd have had a life.a normal life,a flat life..no man,keep standing,we breath thanks to people like u ..please man,old good man,teach me how to stand even if everybody around me is sitting.consuming.and wondering what to wear,to eat,to say...to be IN.
thanks DR,u're making me nostalgic.Back home,i learned to stand,i knew how..it was my place ,my "beoble";)..i find it hard to stand where i am now..i'm not very fluent in English,i decided to stay home to take care of my two precious..so ,really during the few free minutes left for me..i just sit.
I suppose if he thinks the standing is worth it and is justified den its alright..
Btw-dis is sumwat of an emo post... ur gettin d hang of it...
The one’s who are in the cave, are happy in the darkness of their ignorance. And the few who get out of the cave are also happy because they see the real light, but they can neither sleep nor go back to the cave. They have to stand for the rest of their lives.
And did the maze of his own memories make him remember too much? Thoughts of his past weaken him? The mind can be so very powerful. By the way, really liked those first few lines, about the measuring... fantastic!
I salute this old man for never losing the courage to remain standing! I think I should try standing more often!
God gives us the vision to see what is worth it to stand for. Cause not always standing is a best choice.
Hey Omid, you came a bit prematurely (to my blog!). If you visit now, you can get the whole story. :)
Sorry all. Me was on a trip;
jarvenpa - In my openion "sayings" are more of a tale than close to reality! ;-)
NBB - perhaps there is still time to decide on whether you wanna sit or stand... a tough choice NBB.
Guess all us medical people are involuntarily sentence to stand anyways :-)
Frank - in our society with all the polution & stress perhaps we won't reach 80 ;-) for me reachin half that age will be a dream-come-true...
Spyder - it is truely disturbing to C the ones who you've stood for sit to watch you tire out though...
foulla - it is so nice to stand but it should be sth worthy. Beliefs are ok but standing for groups & -isms might prove to be just a waste of time & energy as the ones behind the movements are not as caring for members or followers as they are...
em - decisions all can later prove to be wrong.
lol perhaps it has been due to your help :-)
aydin - that was wise & BRILLIANT. There are somewhat doubts arising in if it ain't enough just to C sometimes & let it be. There are two elements to decide the worth of the job; 1. The value of the subject 2. the people who you are standing for & who'll benefit.
LW - yeah memory is a stranger. Can work double ways... there are no signs to guide one through!!
the lines come from a hallucination period ;-)
david - the man has a long history of standing & suffering a lot as a consequence just as many before & after him have done & will surely do. No regrets but a wish for better insight at somma the occasions...
yep now I've noticed it!!! the important point is that you are back once agn...
Farzad - yeah him 7 the rest of the gang :-) perhaps history will show the true worth of their efforts...
Kimia - well said. But where we ain't sure, is it better to sit or stand??
Dr O2
Ya could be due to me aiding u..Anyway I know that I am so fab... hehehehe
I would fallow my feelings. If it says sit, no way to stand cause if I do it will be a weak stand :)
em - perhaps that is true. :-) can't argue abt that at all...
kimia - instincts are the best 7 the worst of each person alive. It depends on the person and the related task i guess.
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