When…
When the darkness starts gathering
from every corner into her eyes
A lonely leaf tangles again with the storm
A panic spin, twirl, a dance
A whirl-wind romance
Of shedding passions
When not a bud or flower to touch or behold
Why this renewed hope of spring !
In a whirl-wind
That tender new leaf
Little shy and young
Smiled and stepped into
Nature’s majestic ball.
Her gold and emerald gown
Glided and gleamed
When she danced all night
In the arms of a rugged branch.
Fiery rubies were her jewels.
She wore the necklace of frosty pearls.
Like a princess she shimmered
Commanding every attention.
Swinging to the tune of the wind
Her joys knew no bound
Till it was midnight and time to fall
With other leaves on the ground.
In the autumn of her passion
she laid there cold and pale.
Not knowing how to stick,
yield, or surrender.
With a crumbling rippled surface
And a seething volcano within.
Departure
She kissed lovingly again and again
my forehead and red hot cheeks.
Gently cusping my face
in her old wrinkled hands.
“Do not cry my precious,
It breaks my heart to see these tears.
Take care of yourself and yours.
Come back soon.
I will only be here
sitting in the same place, alive and well
waiting for you, you know where.”
Wiping those tears she spoke
in a soft far away voice.
I felt proud and content in her silky soothing touch.
And warm loving eyes.
For I was her entire world
From the beginning right to the end.
Searching aimlessly in my bag
I managed to say goodbye.
Yes, I did not have the courage
to look in those tearful eyes.
Feeling mean and selfish
I dragged myself towards the door.
Suddenly the big airport corridors opened wide
swallowing everything familiar or mine.
A choking pain shot upward inside
leaving me weak and void.
Shaking knees refused to support.
Gasping for air, I held the nearby wall.
Slowly, a realisation was dawning
No, there will not be any more next time.
Held back tears ran riot
drenching me from head to toe.
“Passport please,” an officer asked,
“Is this your first time ever.”
“No, not really.” clearing my throat,
I mumbled the meaningless words.
-Shail Agrawal
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