Still'd Morrows Poem by Raghav Bal Mardhekar

There was a fragrance in the air.
Always - when you were there.
Now I breathe to seek and find
A whiff recessed deep in my mind.

You're gone- the darkness spills
And shadows clamber over the sills
As I strain and strain your face to see
Amidst jumbled memories left for me

I'm aging but still try to walk
Wobbly feet and knees that knock
They no longer heed my will
Command me ‘sit' and just be still

The shadows say touching my cheek
You no longer see nor do you speak
They say that soon it will all be gone
The despair, lost hope, the daily dawn

My heart beats; its still quite strong
Awaiting the lilt of another song
That'll lighten the temper of my room
Rid of the shadows and the gloom

But sure it's told me, old man
The time's near; I'll do all I can
But it's getting somewhat rough
Keeping you alive is getting tough

And then one night I hear a sound
That I sense within me resound
A quiet sigh— then all is still
Life's gone; like a shadow on the sill.

A new morn and the sun's alight
Children play, charming and bright
They dance on a flat piece of ground
I lie inert with nary a sound

There's company here of others too
Who lived lives- like me and you
We often talk of days long gone
In comfort— ‘cause we're not alone