I do not know where I stood
A moment ago;
Was it beside the book-shelf,
Near the bird-bath,
...
He asked,
Did I know him
About whom the entire world knew,
In whose names people write
...
Somebody has been careless,
There is cigarette ash on the carpet,
The ashtray kept on the table was not used.
Who will clean this mess?
...
‘Tell us a story, Dadaji' the children insisted.
‘I have no story to tell' I said,
‘Then, make up a new story from an old one' they said.
I mulled over their suggestion and began -
...
You said - ‘Close your eyes'
I did just that.
Then you said - ‘Cover them tightly with your palms'
I did just that but, my eyes hurt,
...
Sad tales,
The stories of our life,
Stay with us, cannot be erased.
...
Asking me
To look for an old rusted pin,
Buried beneath the sand
Of a desolate desert
...
Then, he said -
‘I laboured much to escape from life.
Do not ask me to return; I cannot deal with it again.'
He and I, both formless, floating on a cloud, exchanged notes.
...
His head held high
The strutting bird
Surveyed the field
He did nothing else.
...