The Dayafter

                                                                                 

                        The day breaks
                        Just like another day.
                       Dancing streaks of sunshine
                       On the grilled balcony wall
                       Cast patterns soft, silky, playful.

                       Birds fly past in many hue, many colours
                       Chirping, chattering, twiddling.
                       In gay abandon blows
                       The cool morning breeze;
                       The fluffy white clouds sail idly by.

                       The lush green herbal park
                       Below the balcony, stretches;
                       The tall tree tufts gently sway,
                       Tossing leaves swishing away.

                       The call stirs, my stupor torn,
                       In fluttering heart my mind flips
                       The day just gone by
                       In celebration superannuation.

                      Friends and colleagues, near and dear
                      Calling on, smiles smeared;
                    Cocktail of fun and frolics,
                    Flowery accolades, resonating applauses,
                    Rounds of music lilting, rollicking
                    Toast to celebration:

                    Of career gone by,
                    Life spent and love shared,
                    And the life next quietly in wait
                    To live in freedom, in utter liberation.

                    What next? How? Where?
                    The crowded questions, die hard, obstinate
                    Bang like a band of invaders,
                    Robbing my night’s sleep;
                    And even as the day breaks
                    Refuse to leave.

                    Into the abyss I stare
                    In stark despair
                    Seeking solace for solutions.

                   The sun beckons.
                   The Time ordains.
                   It must tread on
                   Steadfast in its path.
                   And deep down as I reflect
                   Away from the din around
                   It dawns from within…

                   That life must be lived
                   As it comes our way,
                   Not as we think it should.
                   Freedom or fetter, dark or bright
                   Celebrate we must
                   Life’s little strides
                   And pray for the life we have
                   And for patience and forbearance
                   For that it hasn’t.

                   The sun beckons.
                   And Time, from beyond
                   The Sai Temple, tolls
                   In the blaring of conch
                   And ringing of mass prayer
                   And ordains Life is Beauty
                   And Beauty Eternity
                   And Life a celebration
                   Between the Time and the two.

                                ---------------


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