EVENING OF LIFE

EVENING OF LIFE


Long dark night, somber and cold
Is so silent, yet, behold!
Harken voices yonder those.
Out there a storm icy blows.

I am alone, without friend,
Without anyone to fend
For my needs in this old age,
In this home, a real cage.

What keeps me company close
Are some distant voices those
That come from my hoary past,
Which will until my death last.

Truly the best years of life,
I gave for children and wife;
For my country, for my men,
In order to defend them.

But now that my back is bent,
Why should I at all repent
That I have been forgotten
By all, today, forsaken?

Memories of olden days,
When from all I had won praise
For my service, for my deed,
No one remembers indeed.

Now that I am old and weak,
No more than this I do seek:
“Don’t hate my infirmity,
Let me live with dignity.

I hope it is not too much
To expect luxury such
That I need not beg for bread,
That hunger be not a dread.

If that be not possible
And you are just not able
To my frail life thus protect,
Let me then die with respect”.


• Written in aabb, 7-7-7-7 format.


M C Gupta
25 July 2003