When I Ask Myself Poem by Pradip Chattopadhyay

See what’s not seen
Hear what’s not heard
Find precious gem
From the seeming muck
Lift one soul
Bring one smile
Stop one while
To look away from you
Love one way
As if hearts live
To only receive
What you must give!

Then ask yourself
Judge yourself
In all the years done
You a poet a man
In what gain
Have dragged your pen!

You stop there
Afraid you know the answer

I’m vain

As a poet as a man

The unseen not in my sight
The unheard not in my word

I’m vain
Echoes your sightless sight

I’m vain
Returns the depth of night!