Every fall takes a little longer to heal

 

Every fall takes a little longer to heal.

Every setback sets you a little further back.

And you wonder if you are still the same you!

Once you tripped and fell face down on the ground

Your parents had their hearts in their hands.

But you sprang up on your feet right there and sprinted away.

Now you wonder how you changed so much!

The bone memory dies hard.

It remembers how you slaved away for the success.

For one more project, one more, always one more.

The corporate hunger was insatiable!

How you deprived your little child

day after day, night after night, your own pleasure too!

On the day of your retirement, they gave you a watch.

Fully aware that the time when you needed it, was behind.

You are a burden to society now,

Though you contributed lifelong for your old days,

Now, you are considered too costly to keep.

They are patiently waiting for you to quietly disappear.

You sit on the worn-out chair on your porch.

under the shade of the peepal tree that you planted once.

And peer through a pair of thick glasses.

Time does not move; it is at a standstill.

Do you recognize the little child who just

tripped and bounced right back up, over there in the meadow?

Life goes on, my friend, with you or without

This chair on your porch will remain empty soon.

You're just a memory to a select few, your own kindred

and only till the time they too pass away.