Purple-Horizon

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