Forty On The Fourteenth Poem by Deepak Manchanda of Delhi

Forty on the Fourteenth
An age away from being - haha
Fourteen on the Fourteenth
Or just Four on the Fourteenth

Infact, from that day on Fourteenth
When you first opened your eyes
And so opened my eyes
To the glowing joy of fatherhood

Into those eyes, then
That I looked - as you looked back
From a small bundle of blankets;
Your head resting in my elbow

You smiled up at me!

And I paced the room with you
Resting your head below my chin
Your tiny heart
Beating in rythmn with mine

At Forty on the Fourteenth...

My heart is still in rythmn for you
A shoulder always ready
For you to rest your head on
Ready for Fourteenths more to come.

Fly high your Makar Sakranti kite
Feel the freedom of the Big Sky
And yet the tug of the string -
Tethered, to keep you grounded

*My dear Akriti*
May the Four-teenth be with you!
Always.