! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Those Were The Days...! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Poem by Mamta Agarwal
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Those Were The Days...! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Kicking a small piece of broken earthen pot,
While playing on the roadside, hop scotch.
Or dribbling a ball and throwing it at a team mate.
Screaming as I fell, skidding on the roller skates.
Playing marbles with my kid brother, ten years old
Aiming at queen of carom board with one eye closed.
Trying my hand at basketball, hockey and table tennis.
One day, a bunch of us stormed into YMCA premises.
As there was no club exclusively for girls, back then.
Sir, we said politely you have to treat us at par with men.
Please be kind enough to give us forms for membership.
You are a sportsman, so how about some sportsmanship.
Next day, after submitting our forms, we were in the hall.
Awkwardly aiming and trying to strike a billiard’s ball.
It was so good in my country back then, now I see.
We knew no fear; felt so young, joyous and carefree.
Its still not bad, as I see my daughter go through her day.
She has lots of fun, makes choices in an assertive way.
Oh, my heart cries for the women in far off Afghanistan.
Will they ever, ever, ever again see the light of dawn...
Oh, my heart cries for the women in far off Afghanistan. Will they ever, ever, ever again see the light of dawn... day is not far off when they willfeel pulse of freedom andbright tomorrow...whn they look back they too will enjoy old days.....10 read mine martyres...innocence regained
dear mamtaji, i was so annoyed of the recent bill that got passed in afghanistan... women are mere sexual toys! what kind of religious idiotry is this?
Its a nice tale well told and ends with a relevant question. Good work.
Its a fine poem-story that beginning and ending served lot of food for thoughts! I love to read your poetry bcoz your wording has the power of poemotharapy! 1010101010101000 with cheers!
dear mamta......feeling for the opressed, doing things for them cleanses our soul.we, as a generation probably enjoyed life and managed to give our children the best we could.on the other handone does feel bad to see a part of the world, opressed and moving backwards in time.a very sensitive write, for the women opressed, who do not have a say even for themselves.lovely write ritty
A wonderfully evocative and sensitive write, giving voice to centuries of oppression and subservience. A perfect 10.
I also have a daughter Who is assertive and has fun But, still I find it stale Before what I enjoyed Since we fought and got What now they get Easy and free The change came from us Who had to go out and get We now allow our children to follow their dreams. Women silently suffer Not only in Afghanistan From deep within we rose We said we will take no more Many unknown among us live A day will come for them too To one day dare to rise And live their dreams! Mamtaji, Your poems all carry a wonderful message to us. You create a burden within our souls to think of those around. Angel
Mamta ji, It is so amazing you pick so many subjects, I cannot even imagine. And ofcourse you them such beautiful treatment! ! Wow! There is a Telugu saying: 'Ravi kaanchani choo Kavi kanchun' Which means a poet (Kavi) can see what even Sun(Ravi) cannot find. Kudos to your strengths of observation.
hmmm...very heartfelt nostalgic poem with a message...........
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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12/5/2025 3:11:23 AM # 1.0.0
Would that women in every far country could see the light of day, dear Mamta. You write with passion. May your message be heard. The words are strong and beautiful. Blessings from, Sandra