"It's the first one in town",
his father mused with glee,
while young Eddie stared at a strange box
which he learnt was supposed to show magic.
A kind of magic that left jaws open
with how impossible seemed possible.
"Humans inside that box?”, he questioned.
Because how could a 6ft man fit inside a box,
while some women danced inside it?
Some folks feared it, yet some worshipped.
'A cursed box’ they feared, 'a magic box' they awed,
A new opening to the undiscovered world
which seemed so far away…
A source of happiness, a source of insight
also, finally "Mon Ami", Eddie marveled,
As springs swept by and winters rolled around,
Fuzzy images turned clear
Colors swarmed around creating scenarios
in what used to be a black and white dullness.
Eddie stared as the box changed in form,
As if it has grown with him as he aged,
varying in size, shape & undefined qualities,
but never felt as if its heart changed
Never...
Because his dear friend was the same for him,
His happiness, trustee, and portal to enjoy life.
He witnessed his friend become everyone's favorite,
thriving in attention.
He witnessed his friend's fame falter
Saw how the newfound technologies out-shined his comfort box.
How everyone forgot and started to condemn
something that once used to be a magic box to all.
Yet he couldn't bring himself to care,
because he never left.
Even at the age of 75, he sits on a creaking chair
staring at his grand kids immersed in glistening screens on their hand,
looking back at the aged TV playing only for him, he whispers,
"We aged well Mon Ami. We aged well..."
By Rtr. Isuri Senevirathna
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