On the Late Eve of Life

_____________ Poet’s Note: One of the last strong-holds of joint-family system, India, is breaking up. Old-parents, all-alone in lonely homes, have become a common sight. This poem depicts the fate of one such lonely mother. ______________ Two sons, one far across the continents, His visits rarer than of a Blue Moon— With some gifts to garnish his rustled guilt, To cover up for time seldom given. Another next-door close, and too far still, Cared for money more than his old mother, Parents he felt a needless burden were, And incongruent with spirit of time, He’s keen to sell her memory-filled house, And place her in care of an old age home. Both did well know what their mother wanted: The one— far-off— hoped, she’d appreciate That he can’t be home more often than now, Both felt, their compulsions made immense sense. Their visits dried like a helpless river Handicapped by dams, much irrigated, Her own concerns remained confined to her, And left to fend for her fate long fated, She aged fast trying to wipe own tears. Age is no child of time, but faulting years. Time was, not in a far off horizon When children piled on mother’s ample bed, Evening sun sliding through slotted windows, She a rare focal point of their young life— Childish cares, complaints, concerns, bed-time tales, But that seemed like ancient time too far gone, No use she thought hankering for spent time, Now reduced to fragile vague memories! Soon an old age home was lined up for her, Her neighbours shaking incredulous heads. It was of little practical use still, For, no one had the time to intervene. She was even taken there for a feel, Perhaps to make the future shock less mean; An old inmate showed her expensive shawl Her son had sent, which, as a parcel came, A telegram-like note and that was all; Her wrinkled fingers on shawl, but what shame! As she tried hard her hurt feelings to hide, Best gift is time, she seemed to say as cried. Time once was, richer her fabric of life, Of late if life were rife, it was with strife! ________________________________________ Happenings | 08.03.2017 |