Walk Through The Memory Lane Poem by Diwakar Bhatt

Thoughtful I was, sitting alone at my window,
Eyes glued to the falling white flakes of snow.
Tree tops and distant hills wrapped in cloak white
My room was dimly lit but warm by a fire bright.

Me and my wheel chair, the two of us inseparable,
I was imprisoned in a cocoon of gloom imperceptible.
Slowly rubbed the windowpane to clear the view,
A heart pierced by an arrow also I wistfully drew.

I looked at it keenly and added two drops of blood,
Dripping down the wound to be better understood.
Mind reminisced the past period of days youthful,
When sky was under our feet and life was colorful.

Quite a journey began through the memory lane,
An old unfinished love story came alive to pain.
I could clearly recall the face of a serene eyed girl,
Her long lashes and an unruly but becoming curl.

Angel of happiness she was due to smile disarming,
Singing canary she was with a voice ever charming.
I had a crush on her but could not express in words,
Difficult it was than problems of powers and surds.

We sat together, talked, discussed many things apart,
But lips were tight to tell her the yearning of my heart.
School days flew like the swallows of summer sky,
All left for different destinations bidding a goodbye.

Desires became dormant under the burden of study,
To face the challenges I had to make myself ready.
Time went by with usual pace without hurry or laze,
We lost into the unending walk in the worldly maze.

Luck bore the fruits I could never imagine to taste,
Beautiful things would soon happen in such haste.
Like a bolt from the blue I saw her one day in a rush,
She was more of a young lady having a lovely flush.

My heart thrilled to see the light of my life gone dull,
I instantly crossed her path without any time to mull.
At first taken aback by such an impudent act of mine,
In a second I could see her face glowing with a shine.

“O! My god! What a pleasant surprise? So nice to see,
“Where were you for so long? ” said she in a verse free.
Voice stuck in my throat on such a vociferous address,
Felt myself ill at ease but anyhow overcame the stress.

Replied all her queries in a tone befitting a gentleman,
Her enthusiastic welcoming gesture was a good omen.
A long trail of meetings started since that sunny day,
How we came close is an unsolved riddle even today.

I never proposed in the fashion of a lover on his knees,
Being a simpleton I never played antics on her to please.
Summers, we enjoyed in the shades of big Bunyan tree,
Unwary of the world we were in our own paradise free.

Rains, we ran together under the showers from heaven,
Droplets brought a cool delight without a penny given.
Winters, we snuggled together before the fireplace cozy,
I used to read my love poems to her as if offering a posy.

Springs, we roamed the woods having a look so renewed,
Shoots decorated every tree as many colors were infused.
All the time walking with her fingers entangled in mine,
Such a joy it was as if gliding with her on the cloud nine.

Dreams we wove to make our own little humble abode,
Raise a family together while traversing the tortuous road.
I found myself in love with her even beyond madness,
Not a day I could think without her hypnotic nearness.

I never knew that my ecstasy days would no longer last,
Sudden orders I got from my unit to reach the front fast.
Crestfallen I felt at the very thought to leave her behind,
Anyhow country before self was a soldier’s firm mind.

She came running to the station to know my departure,
Sad face could easily tell the tale of her joy’s forfeiture.
Held her down face in my hands and looked into her eyes.
Nothing could I do to stop her heart breaking sobs & sighs.

Kissed her softly and she also reciprocated without shame
Though not bound by marital vows but it was all the same.
She took out her chain and tied it gently around my neck,
Amulet it was with her photo for all the dangers to check.

I boarded the train as it moved, leaving behind everything,
Nothing could be done; all humans are destiny’s plaything.
In her long skirt and a top of blazing color she was a doll,
That was last I saw her as Cinderella being ready for a ball.

From one camp to another on the battle front attending,
Many months passed away from home in war unending.
Neither news of her I could get nor could I convey mine,
I lost in the deep hostile jungles behind the enemy line.

Moving in the night and hiding in the daytime I made,
Survival was next to impossible but patience only paid.
After long hardships I found where allied army camped,
Hardly few paces I was away behind the fence damned.

Suddenly my foot fell on a mine and a big blast occurred,
Lifted up to many feet high the only thing I remembered.
Opened my eyes as if from a long sleep with limbs aching,
Found myself in a hospital bed unable to stop the shaking.

Nurse came to comfort me in the white dress like a fairy,
Put her soft palm on my forehead to end the feeling scary.
With difficulty I asked her how long I was in such a state,
I could realize the loss of my legs as a brutal blow of fate.

No hope they saw in my vegetative form for a year long,
Miraculous return from death proved their theory wrong.
Nobody made enquiry about me there not even by her,
In this condition of mine I had to cry alone and suffer.

In the dark of night tears ran down the corner of eyes,
I couldn’t make out where the future of a cripple lies.
Her face, her smile, her blue eyes full of love and lust,
Came before my eyes but left me bruised to rot and rust.

Sent letter to my unit stating my name, with identification,
I came to know that I was declared lost in the notification.
But with persuasion and efforts many I could convince,
I came alive from war being recovered in a far province.

One day I received a hefty bunch of letters as belonging.
I opened them one by one to find her words of longing.
The sadness was evident from every line she wrote,
Deep love and the unrest those could easily connote.

The last letter was only written half without an end,
I could easily sense the massage she wanted to send.
First the thought of meeting her came to mind instantly,
But not to bother her I restrained my emotions patiently.

But memorable moments of love compelled me to visit,
Once I wanted to see her with love before the end of it.
I managed to find her address but not much of tidings,
Calm and poised in a car there to observe from hidings.

After a restless wait I saw my love came out from house,
She was no more a mademoiselle but somebody’s spouse.
First a rage engulfed me but soon my tears spilled,
In the name of love left with my heart remorse filled.

Happy I was that she could not find me for reason good,
I would be a burden on her, God must have understood.
Suddenly the doorbell rang breaking the reverie deep,
Long lost love is a valued treasure for a lover to keep.