In The Paling Light Poem by Valsa George

In The Paling Light

Rating: 5.0


Behind me, I hear
The receding roar of years
It sends chills down my spine
Beads of sweat pop up on my brow
What did I do all these years?
Did I sleep through half my life
Hibernating in my burrow
Did I keep the promises vouched?
Live up to the resolutions made?
Could I light a fire in gloom?
Did I wipe a tear?
Could I bring a smile to anyone dear?

For me, no more springing steps
But a fast withering torso
So awkward and unsure,
I look on to the track ahead
As the race winds down
And the final turn in sight

Once my life has been a round of cheer
But no more can I cling onto those days so dear
‘Much have I seen and known’
Yet how little!
To what all places I have been!
How much joy and pain shared!
How many dreams I dreamt!
Now in this paling light, I stay
Brooding over joys missed
Conjuring unfulfilled longings
Coiling back all the way to the start

I am an autumn leaf
Now turned red,
And about to shed.
As the world goes wheeling through
Somehow I am pushing through
Waiting for that tightening grip
Of an unknown caller’s powerful fist!
How am I going to respond to it?
With regret or delight
I am not sure

Do the journey that lies ahead
Take me to a sunlit abode
Oh, don’t ask me
I am not quite sure!

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Yasmin Khan 20 July 2013

'Do the journey that lies ahead Take me to a sunlit abode Oh, don’t ask me I am not quite sure! ' So true...dear poet, these ripened thoughts are a testimony to the enlightenment that you achieved through age, so successfully you've gone through a self-appraisal process. I love the tinge of optimism and sweet submission in your poems. Kudos Valsa ma'am.

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Hazel Durham 18 July 2013

Yes times were so fine, but yet there is a lingering sadness at challenges passed by, regrets of not having lived even better! A beautiful write seeking answers as the last furlong is in sight!

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Patricia Grantham 18 July 2013

Where there is life there is always hope. We can't change the past but we can look towards the future with hope. While there are still some breaths to take let us make good use of it. Yes the Autumn leaves will turn read and shed but the tree will blossom again in its stead. A lovely write again!

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Shahzia Batool 18 July 2013

The journey within is like a diver's dive into the pearly sea, when he comes up he is never empty-handed, rather his hands are full of pearls oysters!

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Danny Draper 18 July 2013

Essences of Elliots's Prufrock in this, regrets and apprehension of loss and opportunities lost and futures still uncertain to come in regret as status quo.

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Kumarmani Mahakul 25 August 2018

As the world goes wheeling through Somehow I am pushing through Waiting for that tightening grip Of an unknown caller’s powerful fist! How am I going to respond to it? With regret or delight I am not sure.............touching expression with nice theme. A beautiful poem nicely executed. Thanks for sharing.10

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Deepak Kumar Pattanayak 17 November 2014

Between life and death lies a path wrapped up in many a dream, many a hope, many a joy, many a sorrow Yet we tread on to reach at last the post and pause to look back in the paling light to see what we have succeeded, yet days well spent or ill spent carry us to the end........Valsa.....great write as always

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Amitava Sur 21 November 2013

A beautiful penning about the complexity of a human life mingled between fear - joy, openness - meanness. confidence - doubts etc, Perhaps this itself is life.... always in a dilemma.

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Heather Wilkins 22 July 2013

when we have done our best no more is expected. but we must look to te future with hop. nice write

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Walterrean Salley 20 July 2013

A poem filled with longing. When we’ve done our absolute best, then our hearts can confidently look up with assurance—especially in the paling of light. An absolutely wonderful rendering of verse.

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