On one occasion I was asked;
Bullet or ballot..?
Hitler or Gandhi..?
Nagasaki or Kapilvastu..?
Oh! Many more were there….
I did answer them, in no words;
For that was all, I had.
He then had left unspoken.
Subsequently on, I’ve not seen him either
Nor has clue of his whereabouts,
Yet, the queries are as fresh,
Embedded in my head…
Alarming me all along my walks and works!
Of late, my daughter asked,
“’Speak or ‘not to speak’ fuel trouble”
Of course, it sounded boomerang, yet,
I did answer her, in no words.
To add surprise she added
“Oh I got”.
I read on her face and found atypical
Gesture so rational
And all words uttered logical.
She thanked me;
As if it was her quid pro quo
For my answer did indeed.
I re-read her mood
And found rather waning
Sign of regret floated on her eye brow
And I heard she saying
“He met me and you that day…..
Had I known your kindness,
Had he that day understood your silence;
Together we would have done
And by now mission would be
Perhaps half-way thro’…….
In few years from now
The Home be in its form
All terraces be well adorned
Smile be floated on elderly visages
Lost paradise be gained.
As still its not too late…..
Pa shall I”?
She solicited again.
I did answer her, in no words
Rather with pinch of hope
I held a long breathe and patted her.
Yet, the queries are as fresh;
Of course, I am for the latter
The situation jammed my lips,
And I wasn’t in senile state.
Of late, my daughter asked, “’Speak or ‘not to speak’ fuel trouble” Of course, it sounded boomerang, yet, I did answer her, in no words. ......Excellent piece.........
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
'TRUE INDEED', what a way to endure it by holding your peace in a tense situation. Interesting.