I Never Knew Poem by Padma Devkota

leaves frozen on the stalk
cry as they break
when childish claws oppose
the beauty that such life takes

and the dew
i never knew
dispersed everywhere
except once a winter day
when colourful petals display
their adorned youth to wanton eyes

i slept the night away
until the day
broke out of her confinement beyond the hills
no
i never knew nor ever asked
where went the rolling fire ball
for i was convinced ‘twould roll back to me
and that was all

i never knew privation
in my ebullient days
o
it took so may tomorrows
to teach me the sorrows
of being one
with the leaf
with the dew
with the day

anyway
i would still relegate
knowledge and sorrow
to another
and yet another
tomorrow

to crack broad-bean leaves
enveloped in ice
to finger the dew
to make it roll down the leaf
to tear each day apart
violently
with a touch of personal heart

August 28,2013