Finding Youth
Finding Youth (Poem)
==========================
Finally, the rain gods have visited us
sending dark clouds for many days
soothing this drought mired land
the creeks are full
the earth is blessed.
The clouds are still hovering over
but today
there is no rain
you feel the joy
you feel the energy
let us go to the mountains
for a ray of sun
for a breath of fresh air
for the lonely walk
but why am I rushing
when the trees look beautiful
when the flowers are peeking
and the air is fresh.
Like the bikers and walkers
I am also walking and running
in this narrow path we all share.
A puddle in the midst
a decision infront
how to circumvent it
and go to the mountain
as fast as I can.
But not to this little girl
who sees the puddle of water
runs forward in excitement
she criss-crosses it back and forth
with arms open and wide
circles around again and again
like the swan with pride.
A patient father stands still
imagining of his youth
a rainbow in a cloudy sky.
II
"Cheers to the youth"
we raise our wine glasses
men and women in the middle years
but what is that "youth" we are craving for
is it the look we have or pretend
or is it the ideas or idealism we intend
What binds me to my youth
I do not understand.
Where is the youth I left behind
I lament deep inside
time has moved it far away
behind the fog of yesterday
but what I lament deep inside
hidden in the deep corner it is there
needs some light
to come outside.
III
Of all the crazy things that I do
What is the the thing which
reminds of my yonder years
what was innocent at that time
is now is no more
a mirror of fog lay infront
let me find that thing which
connects to my yonder years
let me find that thing which
which I do not circumvent around
like the little girl in the puddle
I need to solve this riddle.
"You are weird", says my inner voice
when I rumbled through the pile of leaves
scattered in heaps big and small
why do I walk through them all.
The red and yellow fallen leaves
scattered across the path
why do you walk through them
O friend
when you can circle around them.
I do not know why I do it
walking over the leaves
listening to the crackling sound
in this hazy evening sunlight.
Walking in the leaves reminds
of yonder years
when I use to run around
in the rice fields after the crop
spreading hands across like a bird
touching every stalk on the path
going in a zigzag
connecting to earth.
I did not circle around the field
like what the little girl did
not circle around it
but experience it!
IV
Of all the things of youth
I lament
Of all the crazy things
I still do
I did not know
deep in the corner of my heart
a flicker of youth I hold inside.
It is that thing I do
I am alone or otherwise
What I had experienced in the rice fields
long ago
I find it in fallen leaves now
deep in the pile of red and yellow leaves
I find myself buried inside.
The little girl showed me
what I could not connect before
the thread of youth
from the yonder years
which I relive in every fall.
=========
Feb 4, 2017
==========================
Finally, the rain gods have visited us
sending dark clouds for many days
soothing this drought mired land
the creeks are full
the earth is blessed.
The clouds are still hovering over
but today
there is no rain
you feel the joy
you feel the energy
let us go to the mountains
for a ray of sun
for a breath of fresh air
for the lonely walk
but why am I rushing
when the trees look beautiful
when the flowers are peeking
and the air is fresh.
Like the bikers and walkers
I am also walking and running
in this narrow path we all share.
A puddle in the midst
a decision infront
how to circumvent it
and go to the mountain
as fast as I can.
But not to this little girl
who sees the puddle of water
runs forward in excitement
she criss-crosses it back and forth
with arms open and wide
circles around again and again
like the swan with pride.
A patient father stands still
imagining of his youth
a rainbow in a cloudy sky.
II
"Cheers to the youth"
we raise our wine glasses
men and women in the middle years
but what is that "youth" we are craving for
is it the look we have or pretend
or is it the ideas or idealism we intend
What binds me to my youth
I do not understand.
Where is the youth I left behind
I lament deep inside
time has moved it far away
behind the fog of yesterday
but what I lament deep inside
hidden in the deep corner it is there
needs some light
to come outside.
III
Of all the crazy things that I do
What is the the thing which
reminds of my yonder years
what was innocent at that time
is now is no more
a mirror of fog lay infront
let me find that thing which
connects to my yonder years
let me find that thing which
which I do not circumvent around
like the little girl in the puddle
I need to solve this riddle.
"You are weird", says my inner voice
when I rumbled through the pile of leaves
scattered in heaps big and small
why do I walk through them all.
The red and yellow fallen leaves
scattered across the path
why do you walk through them
O friend
when you can circle around them.
I do not know why I do it
walking over the leaves
listening to the crackling sound
in this hazy evening sunlight.
Walking in the leaves reminds
of yonder years
when I use to run around
in the rice fields after the crop
spreading hands across like a bird
touching every stalk on the path
going in a zigzag
connecting to earth.
I did not circle around the field
like what the little girl did
not circle around it
but experience it!
IV
Of all the things of youth
I lament
Of all the crazy things
I still do
I did not know
deep in the corner of my heart
a flicker of youth I hold inside.
It is that thing I do
I am alone or otherwise
What I had experienced in the rice fields
long ago
I find it in fallen leaves now
deep in the pile of red and yellow leaves
I find myself buried inside.
The little girl showed me
what I could not connect before
the thread of youth
from the yonder years
which I relive in every fall.
=========
Feb 4, 2017
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