If and Did

A man named If sat on a bench
Near the end of his days.

A man named Did was walking by
And stopped for a moment along his way

“Hello there sir”, Did did declare
“Gotta run” he said, without a second to spare

“Oh, hello” whispered If “What’s the big hurry?
Where are you going? Why do you scurry?”

“There’s so much to do” said Did to If
“Gotta go, gotta do. Gotta be, gotta live.”
“I’ve climbed mountains, I’ve sailed seas
I’ve danced with Kings, I’ve cured disease
I’ve done so much, but the years they are few
And there’s still so much, so much stuff left to do

What about you, friend. Have you lived your life full?
Have you seen the seven wonders? Have you run with the bulls?

“No” said If. in a voice that was low
“I just sat on this bench and just watched the people go
I quite often thought what life could’ve been
But I just sat here much to my own chagrin

I could’ve done much If only I would’ve
I could’ve been great, I guess maybe I should’ve
But this seat was so comfy, so warm and so cozy
I wanted to talk to people but I couldn’t be nosy
I wanted to dance or even to sing
But I’m not the kind of person who does those things.
I could’ve traveled but I didn’t know where
I could’ve had fun if only I dared
So here I sit my years mostly spent
Never seeing what you saw, never going where you went”

“Sad”, said Did, feeling sorry for this fellow
But glad that he stopped by just to give him a “Hello”.
“I have something that will brighten you spirits
Something that will bring you joy just to simply hear it.”

“I don’t know” said the frightened old If
“But I guess I could use just a tiny lift”

“Good” said Did, “It is a small proposal”
Of how to spend all the time you have at your disposal
I’ll spend the rest of my life telling you my story
All the fun, all the pain, all the sadness and the glory

That way, my friend, I’ll still be busy doing
And you, well you will simply be reviewing
So you can experience life as if you’re the one
And I can do the one thing that I haven’t done.”

“What’s that?” asked If as cheery as ever
He couldn’t imagine an endeavor never Did ever
“I never reflected at how good life has been
I’ve been so busy going a hundred and ten
I never paused to be thankful for all I’ve been given
I wrote my own song but I don’t know the rhythm

So If, if you’ll oblige me. may I sit and review?
Can I stop and relax? Can I share it with you?”

If was so pleased, he listened and smiled
Then he heard about life; every year and each mile

And Did was happy to finally reflect
He started at the beginning, and he didn’t miss a speck

If and Did near the end of their days
Spent all their time with one another
Like long lost friends, or two close brothers
They both learned a lesson that neither had learned
That Did never experienced and If never yearned

That life isn’t about what you did or did not
It isn’t about sitting still or doing a lot
If and Did learned through good and bad weather
That the only thing that makes life worth living
Is being together