Growing old

Pushmaotee Subrun

I just realised I am growing old,

While writing on the topic GROWING OLD,

Now, now, it struck me, believe me!

So far still cheerful, bless me,

More confident than ever on my inner beauty,

With ability and gratitude to see beauty,

To gaze lovingly on the crimson colours,

Be it sunset or sunrise in dazzling colours,

Nay, the rainbows’ shimmering arc of light,

Setting my heart aflame with delight,

And making me wish I had Wordsworth’s or Keats’

Finesse to write, giving my old heart a passionate beat.

.

Shall I believe then that growing old is a fallacy,

A privilege denied to so many?

This precious time available now to read, to write poesy,

To reflect, to love, offering thanks to the Lord Almighty,

Going on holidays, adventurously,

Visiting my dream places, admiring

The beauty of this universe so alluring,

So very ravishing!

A miserable life it would have been,

Leaving so much enchanting beauty unseen,

Always toiling and moiling,

Whining and ultimately dying!

.

It’s fine, I am growing old physically

But active mentally,

With some intellectual awareness,

Seeing the drama of life all pointless.

Why then, let me welcome wrinkles,

With mirth and laugher meet all the freckles

Showering love and empathy,

On those, for love and care hungry!

Yes, the hunger for bread is not so scary,

As the hunger for love that can be dreary!

If my old frame can still fill me

With compassion, I feel simply lucky.

Pushmaotee Subrun studied in Delhi University, worked in Zimbabwe and Mauritius, and is currently an editor in the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage. She is the author of: ‘Ella’, ‘Who is Your Best Friend?’, ‘Short Stories and Fables’, ‘A lyrical bouquet of Soulful Poems’ and ‘Dreams to Reality’. Very soon, her next anthology of Poetry will be published by Inkdew Publications. Her poems have featured in prestigious online magazines. She was selected by ‘Destiny Poets’ as Poet of the Year – ICOP Awards 2019. Her poems feature in several International Anthologies. Lately, she was honoured by Gujarat Sahitya Akademi. She was honoured with the prestigious title of Poet of the Year in 2022 by Inkdew Inkdew. She was among the most favourite 3 World Gogyoshi organized by the founder of world gogyoshi, Taro Aizu.