Miriam Ghezaïl Ben Brahim
Moderator 
POEMS BY MIRIAM GHEZAÏL BEN BRAHIM
THE LONE BENCH
Once upon a grey and somber eve,
Underneath a willow's weeping leaves,
There lies a lone bench of aged wood,
With secrets whispered, understood.
Its coat of paint, once vibrant and bright,
Now fades into a dull, forgotten sight,
Yearning for solace, worn and strained,
In a desolate world, it remains unrestrained.
Oh, how many weary souls did it embrace,
Seeking shelter from life's tearing pace,
Each tear and hardship, its planks did bear,
Absorbing sorrow, but no one to share.
Overlooking a river that forever flows,
Its gentle caress embracing sorrows and woes,
A testament to love's dwindling flame,
For here I sit, etching my name.
This desolate bench witnesses my despair,
As I gaze upon an empty space, aware,
Wishing for a companion to ease the ache,
But the ghosts of solitude are all that partake.
The willow's whispers, a pitiful song,
Casting shadows on where moments belong,
The lone bench laments its never-ending role,
As myriad stories silently unfold.
Time drags on, but the bench remains,
A monument to the unending rains,
Loneliness engrained in every groove,
Aching for companionship it cannot prove.
Now I rest upon this silent throne,
Seeking solace, feeling so alone,
For in this world of strangers and strife,
The lone bench remains my sole companion, life.
Prepared Angela Kosta
