The Dinner. Poem by Anirbit Mukherjee

The rice is cooling down, (then it wont taste good) .
The soup is getting cold, (I know you don't like soups) ,
The fish is very good to taste, (I know you don't eat fish) ,
The chocolate ice-cream is great! (Oh! ..sorry..I forgot that you like vanilla)
The almonds in the chocolate bar are also great, (Oh! ..No! .you like only plain chocolates) .

See..its already late, I am hungry, the food is getting cold, Won't you come?
I am waiting for you,

Yesterday I waited at lunch, you didn't come,
The day before that at breakfast, you didn't come,
That day I was waiting in my room, you didn't come,
The day before at the bus, and many times before....

I know I am empty handed, I have nothing to give...
But neither do you ask for anything!

The sun has set long ago, vermilion scarred the evening sky,
The sky bled with joy, the sun reveled in its colour,
The river rolled smoothly by, I was waiting....

See..now its very late..where are you? The dinner is getting cold..,
Won't you come?

What? What did you say? Oh...you have already had your dinner?
...that day too you didnt tell me...
That you had already had your lunch.

I know the food wont taste better,
whether one eats alone or not.
I know the information will be told,
whether on sms or in person.
I know you will understand,
whether I teach or I dont.
I know I will survive,
whether you are there or not.
I know the road will be walked,
whether I walk alone or not.


The chocolate ice-cream is melting, the soup will go stale...
The lights are going hazy, its vapours all around,
A waterfall in the dining hall?

I shall wait again for you,
Tomorrow again at lunch, in my room, at dinner,
Whenever I am free...

Will you come tomorrow?
Never mind, if you cant,
I will wait again the day after tomorrow...

I know there are millions waiting for you,
But I am also waiting,



But can you wait for me?

Oh! ..Sorry! ..you are busy..

I wont ask again.

I think I had a heavy lunch,
I wont have my dinner today.