If Only Poem by Mou Mukherjee Das

Times change-circumstances change
But the question that keeps on haunting
"If only".

If only-
I had the guts,
I made the move,
I had the courage to stand up,
I did not feel cowered by the mere thought of failing,
I had held my head high.

Not thinking twice-
What people would say?
Mavericks would laugh,
Pundits would utter words of caution,
Haters would rejoice,
Envious, green-eyed people would pass remarks,
Sarcasm and falsity would rule the game.

For it is only I -
Who could have made a difference.

If only-
I had treaded the most unobvious,
I had dared to speak up,
I had not cowed down by the thoughts of isolation-
Of standing alone.

If only-
I had not writhed in pain
going through the pangs of desolation,
Bearing alone the burden of truth
Taking up cudgels against the odds,
Striding against the surging waves of opposition
Tired of the manipulative moves
I wouldn't have realized
the real ME.

Today it wouldn't have been a better day
A new day full of promises
A new ME.


Mou Mukherjee Das.