I sit and watch
As the sun goes down
into the purple horizon
And the eye-lids grow heavy
with the weight of years.
I strain my eyes, and see…
swarming tiny hands
From another time-zone
Tapping on the window-pane,
With umpteen questions
Lurking on the finger-tips
Seeking to take
Stock of my life…
What I did for them?
What legacy did I leave behind?
I jumble-up an explanation;
Fumble and mumble
my vague answers
‘Was it a mundane existence?
Did opportunities pass me by
Or did I elude them?
Waiting for the right moment,
To come my way?
To do something
Worthwhile?
Yes! I did scatter…
Some words around
Hoping they would take root
And give the coming generation
If not fruit…
Just a soothing shade
To comfort
A few tormented souls.
Sorry, if I disappointed you,
This is all I had in me
This is all I could do…!’
I sit and watch
As the sun goes down
into the purple horizon
And the eye-lids grow heavy
with the weight of years.
Narinder Jit Kaur is a retired Associate Professor from Patiala,who taught English Literature for 31 Years in various Government Colleges of Punjab. A writer and a translator, she has five books of translations, from Punjabi to English, to her credit Including Voices In The Back Courtyard(Rupa & Co.) -An Anthology Of Short-Stories By Punjabi Women Writers. She writes articles, poems and short-stories in English, Punjabi and Hindi. You can read more from her on narinderjit.com