Behind me, I hear
The receding roar of years
It sends chills down my spine
Beads of sweat pop up on my brow
What did I do all these years?
Did I sleep through half my life
Hibernating in my burrow
Did I keep the promises vouched?
Live up to the resolutions made?
Could I light a fire in gloom?
Did I wipe a tear?
Could I bring a smile to anyone dear?
For me, no more springing steps
But a fast withering torso
So awkward and unsure,
I look on to the track ahead
As the race winds down
And the final turn in sight
Once my life has been a round of cheer
But no more can I cling onto those days so dear
‘Much have I seen and known’
Yet how little!
To what all places I have been!
How much joy and pain shared!
How many dreams I dreamt!
Now in this paling light, I stay
Brooding over joys missed
Conjuring unfulfilled longings
Coiling back all the way to the start
I am an autumn leaf
Now turned red,
And about to shed.
As the world goes wheeling through
Somehow I am pushing through
Waiting for that tightening grip
Of an unknown caller’s powerful fist!
How am I going to respond to it?
With regret or delight
I am not sure
Do the journey that lies ahead
Take me to a sunlit abode
Oh, don’t ask me
I am not quite sure!
I agree with Thomas below. Life is never over until God calls you so we have to live it as best we can and bring benefit to others that will give us joy.
Your thoughts are luculent and splendorous and one is carried away by them! I especially liked the lines- I am an autumn leaf / Now turned red / And about to shed- - the last para ' is the high light of the poem, Valsa! Enjoyed!
One cannot keep thinking of the past of wasted time, missed opportunities, all things unsaid and so on. The paling light invites one to revisit these very things. Time to recoup and march on. Journey will end anyway. Nice poem reminiscing the bygone days.
nicely penned recalling the past days, where we reach a stage wondering have v done anything worth fruitful in all these days...........this thought itself is an opportunity to regain the lost opportunity before the final call comes! a gud write Mam
As the world goes wheeling through Somehow I am pushing through Waiting for that tightening grip Of an unknown caller’s powerful fist! How am I going to respond to it? With regret or delight I am not sure.............touching expression with nice theme. A beautiful poem nicely executed. Thanks for sharing.10
Between life and death lies a path wrapped up in many a dream, many a hope, many a joy, many a sorrow Yet we tread on to reach at last the post and pause to look back in the paling light to see what we have succeeded, yet days well spent or ill spent carry us to the end........Valsa.....great write as always
A beautiful penning about the complexity of a human life mingled between fear - joy, openness - meanness. confidence - doubts etc, Perhaps this itself is life.... always in a dilemma.
when we have done our best no more is expected. but we must look to te future with hop. nice write
A poem filled with longing. When we’ve done our absolute best, then our hearts can confidently look up with assurance—especially in the paling of light. An absolutely wonderful rendering of verse.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Dear Thomas, Thanks for your words of assurance! Your comment is a poem in itself which I enjoyed much!