! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Beyond Life Span! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Poem by Mamta Agarwal

Tracing features of your face from memory,
Could see time deeply engraved its footprints.
When we met, your luminous deep set eyes
Crinkled as we laughed at most mundane things.

Who can look time in the eye and defy It.?
Does one manage to go unscathed through life?
I remember, just married, you carved desk
From a wooden carton, decorated with white paint.

Not to forget the brass knob and knick knacks.
And mounted it on wall, with my books stacked.
I forgot to say how pampered I felt.
But I rushed to you with both arms outstretched.

You held me, where was there any need for words…
Your stubble and the warmth of cheeks rubbed.
Today as dusk fell, I like, birds smelt rain.
You handed me paper and fountain pen.

After love died, we tried to live a lie.
But the knots were so tight, it snapped the tie.
Corpse of our marriage began to stink.
And I wanted to push it off the brink.

It was like sitting in cremation ground
Watching loved one go beyond earthly bonds.
I stepped out; it was full moon night in March.
Bright moon light showed me the cobbled path…

I felt hungry for a Banana split and sundae.
Mumbai comes out alive at night, must say.
A lone woman was walking the causeway.
We nodded, as I stepped into a café.