The First Sketch Poem by Anjali Mandokhot

It started with a scratch on paper
That itself came out of a dot,
Going on, to a curve like a smile
And a glimpse of her face, I caught.

A swift move of pencil around lips
And a fine jawline figured out there
Then a little brushing up and down
And on her chubby cheeks, I saw her silky hair


A few strokes of pencil on the temple
Showed calm eyebrows on her closed eyes
Two three curves and few brushings again
And she opened her crystal clear sea deep eyes.


Suddenly on paper, as if I met
A lovely little lass, a friend of mine
With chubby innocent face and a quiet smile
Yet in her eyes, a mischievous twinkling shine


I took her to meet people around me
But it seemed they weren’t pleased
And they all ran their opinions on her.
Some lines were extended and some ceased.


Some shades here and some strokes there
Her features were sharpened
Few jewels around neck and ears were hanged
Her beauty was strenghthened.


On that same paper I met
A goddess like beauty, uncomparable, unmatched
Elegance and grace defined her
Completely flawless and unpatched


Proud of this masterpiece they all were
But I lost my untouched first imagination
Like first love, so very close to my heart
My little friend, my own genuine creation


Many revisions took place on my portrait
What came out is a masterpiece.
Yet I long to meet that nascent face,
That first sketch remains the dearest piece.