An Old Green Shirt Poem by Akhtar Jawad

Twenty three years passed,
since it hugged me for the first time!
It was the Henna ceremony of my daughter.
So smooth, silky and cool was its touch
in the rains of September
that I fell in love of its soothing greenery.
Since then I have changed completely
but it is still soothing, silky and green.
It silently kissed my whole
and said something to my heart
in whispers of the universal language of love,
I saw my heart was smiling.
My daughter was a beautiful and amazing bride.
Since then whenever it hugged me
touches of smiles told me,
"I shall perform this magic again,
can anyone do it for you? "
None, other than an old green shirt
that witnessed a daughter as a bride.
And now after so many wears and tears
It's looked into my eyes once again.
It asked,
can't you get me re-stitched again,
can't you re-wash me and dry me in the sun
can't you leave me for the whole night in the moonlight,
I shall ask the stars how old you are
and how you manage to twinkle like teen aged fairies.
I shall learn this art to regain beauty
and the dawn will come with a message,
the old green shirt is renovated
let it kiss you as a whole
on the occasion of your granddaughter's marriage.
When all will be in the new dresses
you'll see the miracle of human sentiments
when your old eyes will caress the new bride
the effects of aging will vanish from your face.
Let me learn renovation from the old sun,
the old moon and the old stars,
I promise to renovate you,
You'll look distinct like a new man.
And the old green shirt fulfilled its promise.
My granddaughter is a beautiful and amazing bride.